Robert De Niro actually had four professional fights, Um?

[APerno]

.
The story goes that in preparation for Raging Bull Robert De Niro actually participated in four professional boxing matches, going 3 and 1 (at the Felt Forum, MSG no less). It is funny that Boxrec has no such fights recorded. Does anyone know if this is true or was it just a publicity stunt?

[Kalan]

De Niro never boxed or fought anybody.. That's strictly an urban legend.. His record would be listed if he fought in that time period.

[Mimmy]

De Niro never boxed or fought anybody.. That's strictly an urban legend.. His record would be listed if he fought in that time period.

Ive been onto a site that lists many facts about the movie and nothing is mentioned about DeNiro fighting which you would have thought would have been in a fact list.

[BoxBuzz]

Another Billy Crystal Co-Star did have some pro fights as I recall. Curly.....Jack Palance.

[handsofstone]

I remember reading some "little known facts" thing somewhere that De Niro actually ended up ranked in the US top 20 MW's in preparation for Raging Bull

[APerno]

De Niro never boxed or fought anybody.. That's strictly an urban legend.. His record would be listed if he fought in that time period.

Ive been onto a site that lists many facts about the movie and nothing is mentioned about DeNiro fighting which you would have thought would have been in a fact list.

From IMDB Trivia "In preparation for his role, Robert De Niro went through extensive physical training, then entered in three genuine Brooklyn boxing matches and won two of them."

I am not saying it's real, I am asking - but believe me (the urban legend) it shows up all over the place - took me one solid minute to find that quote.

[Controversial]

I imagine they were amateur fights, not pro ones

[APerno]

I imagine they were amateur fights, not pro ones

Yea, if they even occurred - and maybe then not even sanctioned amateur bouts bout some sort of exhibition, with an explicit understanding "this guy needs his face, so be careful"

[Controversial]

I imagine they were amateur fights, not pro ones

Yea, if they even occurred - and maybe then not even sanctioned amateur bouts bout some sort of exhibition, with an explicit understanding "this guy needs his face, so be careful"

Exactly, gym fights against other novices just to give him a taste

[aliboy123]

for a front line Hollywood actor to get in the ring to prepare for a role he would have to be massively protected. there is too much that might go wrong and cost the studios hundreds of thousands of dollars to put right

[Tomasino]

I can remember my dad telling me that the trainer Robert De Niro used said he could have been a contender, or some shite like that. When I watched him in Raging bull, he didn't look that good to me. I don't think he could win a straight pro fight.

[evrenb]

My favourite story in the making of Raging Bull is when DeNiro asked LaMotta what brand of cigar he smoked. Lamotta said ' Bob who cares ...smoke any brand!!' DeNiro responded 'No No...i want to smoke your brand'.

I can hear him saying it..classic

[sweetviolenturge]

This silly rumor had it's origin in a story that appeared in an issue of THE RING with De Niro as LaMotta on the cover back in 1980.
In it, the gentleman that was responsible for training De Niro how to box & got him in shape for the role, made some remark about how in his opinion De Niro became good enough & was in such great shape that he could have fought an actual 4 round professional fight & won it.
Somehow, over the years, this comment morphed into outlandish tales of De Niro actually fighting a handful of pro fights at the old Felt Forum in preparation for the role. Which, in most versions of the story, De Niro knocked out all of his opposition.
I'm sure that another big reason that this particular urban legend is one that so many are absolutely 100% certain is true ( I've personally had several people tell me over the years that they were actually RINGSIDE for one or more of these De Niro "fights" ) is due to confusion with the career of Tony Danza. Who was a popular NYC middleweight pro that fought many of his bouts at the Felt Forum in the mid to late '70s.
Danza was rather limited in his skill set, but he was a big puncher with a somewhat vulnerable chin. Therefore, aside from one lone contest, all of Danza's fights ended in KOs. Either he knocked his opponent out or they knocked him out.
Of course, Danza's side gig as an actor led to him being cast in the popular ABC sitcom TAXI.
Even though his career as an actor blew up in 1979, Danza was still committed enough as a fighter to engage in two of his pro fights after he was cast & the show was on the air.
One of which was the main event at the Felt Forum in which he KO'd Max Hord.
I believe some folks confuse Danza & De Niro as far as who was the real fighter & who was the "just" an actor.

[keithmoonhangover]

De Niro never boxed or fought anybody.

Neither did WIlt Chamberlain. You know that, don't you?

[orbtastic]

DeNiro famously is a method actor (or was at that point) so probably took it pretty seriously.

Pro fights would in the database.

[tiny_acres]

De Niro never boxed or fought anybody.

Neither did WIlt Chamberlain. You know that, don't you?

Funniest yet most accurate post of the day

[keithmoonhangover]

Funniest yet most accurate post of the day

I get it right once a year tiny.