actor Rod Taylor amateur boxing record

[Caractacus]

I just watched a really cool(and sometimes violent) film released back in 1970,
DARKER THEN AMBER
I seem to remember reading in his younger days back in Sydney Australia
that Rod Taylor
(ht 5 ft 11",wt:185 lbs)
was a terrific athlete,track and swimming champion and lifeguard,
and that he was also a amateur boxer(with reportedly over 100 bouts).

What was his record and how good he might have been if he had persued it
and turned professional if only for a few years?

[Caractacus]

I just read somewhere that he took up boxing in High School and fought as a middleweight.

[Caractacus]

I also read somewhere that Rod Taylor did a screen test for MGM as Rocky Graziano in the 1956 film SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKE ME.
The role went to Paul Newman of course.

[Caractacus]

Here is a link to a really good fight between Rod Taylor(age 37) and Ernest Borgnine(age 50 y)
from the 1967 film CHUKA.
(looks to me like Taylor had a pretty good right and left hook,
however his defense looked like it may have needed a little work).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI3ZOcCOhPE

[Broomhall]

Here is a link to a really good fight between Rod Taylor(age 37) and Ernest Borgnine(age 50 y)
from the 1967 film CHUKA.
(looks to me like Taylor had a pretty good right and left hook,
however his defense looked like it may have needed a little work).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI3ZOcCOhPE

You dont get over kidney shots like that. I reckon this is a made up fight because that horse is too well trained.

[Caractacus]

Here is a link to a really good fight between Rod Taylor(age 37) and Ernest Borgnine(age 50 y)
from the 1967 film CHUKA.
(looks to me like Taylor had a pretty good right and left hook,
however his defense looked like it may have needed a little work).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI3ZOcCOhPE

You dont get over kidney shots like that. I reckon this is a made up fight because that horse is too well trained.

well perhaps being an Aussie,maybe Rod Taylor could take kidney punches better then say your average Pommie?
I also happened to notice in that clip that he could throw some fair dinkum body punches.

[Caractacus]

here is a link to a clip of the notorius fight scene in the 1970 film
DARKER THEN AMBER.
Reportly during the filming of it,it sort of got out of hand
and the two actors were leaving the script and going at it
and actually connecting with some punches.
the big guy with the bleached blonde hair is bad guy actor William Smith( 6 ft 2" with 18.5 inch pythons)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0igiQA5jvI

[Caractacus]

here is a link to a clip of the notorius fight scene in the 1970 film
DARKER THEN AMBER.
Reportly during the filming of it,it sort of got out of hand
and the two actors were leaving the script and going at it
and actually connecting with some punches.
the big guy with the bleached blonde hair is bad guy actor William Smith( 6 ft 2" with 18.5 inch pythons)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0igiQA5jvI

Rod Taylor broke three of William Smith's ribs with body punches(in the closet)
and Smith in turn broke Rod Taylors nose
in the scene were he was punching him on the ground.
BTW Darker Then Amber was directed by Robert Clouse who would later direct ENTER THE DRAGON.
and for the role of 'Roper'in it both Smith and Taylor were considered,
but they thought Rod Taylor was too tall for scenes with Bruce Lee( 5 ft 7.5")
However IMDB Lists both Rod Taylor and John Saxon(who played Roper in it)
As 5 FT 10"tall(respectivly).

[Caractacus]

If you are a baby boomer you would certaily remember Big Bill Smith from all those drive-in movies
from the late 1960's and 1970's.
He was also an amateur boxer too.
He was the Air Force Light-Heavyweight German-Austrian Boxing Champion
during the 1950's when he was in the service.
His ring record was 31-1.

check out this fight scene with Joe Namath from the 1970 movie CC & Company

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUb0EIRhkc

[Caractacus]

Here is an earlier scene with William Smith in the movie DARKER THEN AMBER(1970)
(Maybe the old dude should have just answered his question).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXkcoiYVsTE

[Caractacus]

wow,I hadnt heard that song in that clip 'Jenny Take a Ride" in years.
Here is a link to another really cool song by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels fom 1967.
SOCK IT TO ME BABY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP0mhoEdkQs

[Nile4000]

here is a link to a clip of the notorius fight scene in the 1970 film
DARKER THEN AMBER.
Reportly during the filming of it,it sort of got out of hand
and the two actors were leaving the script and going at it
and actually connecting with some punches.
the big guy with the bleached blonde hair is bad guy actor William Smith( 6 ft 2" with 18.5 inch pythons)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0igiQA5jvI

Rod Taylor broke three of William Smith's ribs with body punches(in the closet)
and Smith in turn broke Rod Taylors nose
in the scene were he was punching him on the ground.
BTW Darker Then Amber was directed by Robert Clouse who would later direct ENTER THE DRAGON.
and for the role of 'Roper'in it both Smith and Taylor were considered,
but they thought Rod Taylor was too tall for scenes with Bruce Lee( 5 ft 7.5")
However IMDB Lists both Rod Taylor and John Saxon(who played Roper in it)
As 5 FT 10"tall(respectivly).

Taylor in ENTER THE DRAGON wouldn 't have worked anyway.Bruce already took out someone from down under in his films.

[Caractacus]

Well,I personally think that the real reason the Rod Taylor was not selected for the role of Roper,
was probably because Taylor was an already established movie star in Hollywood.
People going to the cinema in 1973 would have wondered if it was Bruce Lee or Rod Taylor
who was the star of the movie.

[Caractacus]

Taylor in ENTER THE DRAGON wouldn 't have worked anyway.Bruce already took out someone from down under in his films.[/quote]

You sir,may possibly be referring to the late Australian actor and Karate champion,
Peter Ian Archer who played"Parsons"(The Bully on the Boat) in ENTER THE DRAGON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOKJEgZr8WQ

[punchoutsb]

There's a long standing rumor that Rod Taylor beat the crap out of Jimmy Brown during the filming of Dark of the Sun.

[Caractacus]

There is also a rumour that Rod Taylor beat the sh*t out of actor Richard Harris during the filming of THE DEADLY TRACKERS(1973)too.

Man,those guys must have really bugged him.
They may have probably refused to sing"Waltzing Matilda "along with him.

lets hear a few bars.
(because I'll sing it along with ya Rod,anytime you wanna!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFCekeoSTwg

[Nile4000]

There's a long standing rumor that Rod Taylor beat the crap out of Jimmy Brown during the filming of Dark of the Sun.

Probably a rumor.Can't see that happening, but can see Brown beating the crap out of TAylor.