Famous Celebrities Who Tried Their Hand at Boxing

dagosd2000 · Post by **dagosd2000** » 25 Oct 2007, 16:05

I aways tried to imagine what Lou Costello looked like as a boxer. He boxed under the name of Lou King to hide his identity from his mother. Redd Foxx was another one. Hard to imagine. I read were Bob Hope fought under the name of Packy East as an amateur. George Reeves(TV's Superman)was said to have quite some potential as an amateur. Just before his mysterious death,he was lined up to fight an exhibition with Archie Moore. How about Victor McLaglen posing beside Jack Johnson? McLaglen looked pretty fit. Come on you guys,come up with some more names.

EriqS · Post by **EriqS** » 25 Oct 2007, 21:48

James Brown had about fifteen fights as a pro bantamweight/featherweight before focusing on music.

Micky Rourke had a few pro fights back in the 90's, some of which carried the hint of fix. Evidently, however, he was a decent amateur in Florida when he was younger.

Tony Danza had several pro bouts as a Middleweight before landing his first big time acting gig on the show Taxi.

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 26 Oct 2007, 09:59

There are (or at least used to be) some Micky Rourke fights on Youtube. For someone who trained with and regularly sparred with James Toney, you would think he would've learned some skills.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 26 Oct 2007, 11:19

Jack Palance, and that guy from "whos the boss" Tony something.

cybox · Post by **cybox** » 26 Oct 2007, 12:41

Jack O'Halloran was a heavyweight in the 60's and 70's that went on to be in numerous movies as Non in Superman I & II, Hero & the Terror with Chuck Norris, Dragnet with Tom Hanks and many more. Jack also managed former 168 pound champion Frankie Liles.

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 26 Oct 2007, 14:24

Supposedly George Reeves was a Golden Gloves tournament winner, before his days as an actor, which might hold some truth, considering three days after Reeves death was supposed to have been an Archie Moore vs George Reeves bout scheduled for 10 rounds. But then again, I can't say for certain if it was supposed to have been a boxing match or was to be yet another stunt Reeves was to do as Superman, like he had done against Gene LeBell when Reeves made his foray into wrestling.

Buddy Ebsen supposedly was a boxer as well before his days as an actor. Though to be honest its hard for me to imagine that the guy who played Jed Clampett and was also up for the role of the Tinman in Wizard of Oz, could have been a formidable boxer. lol

On the flip side, how about boxers who went into other genres of entertainment? I recall that Lefty Frizell who was famous for songs such as Saginaw, Michigan and I'll Love You A Thousand Ways, wasn't named Lefty because he was a left handed guitar player, but because he knocked out many a man as a Golen Gloves boxer with his left hand.

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 26 Oct 2007, 15:20

Actors who have fought pro: Jack Warden, Tony Danza, Jack Palance (under the name Jack Brazzo), Canada Lee, Victor McLaughlen, Jim Brewer, Jack O'Halloran and a ton of fighters who made a living playing tough guys, like Abe Simon.

Turning pro after celebrity status; actors Mickey Rourke and John Diehl.

Actors who fought as amateurs: Errol Flynn, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Ryan O"Neal, Max Baer Jr......O'Neal fought Jimmy Rosette in the Navy and Rosette went on to the olimpic tryouts....Baer fought amateur at Chico State, I believe.

tagjohnson · Post by **tagjohnson** » 26 Oct 2007, 15:50

The veteran (and very good character actor) Danny Trejo had a very good amateur career while a guest of the California penal system. I understand he won the prison system's welterweight and middleweight titles.

Martin Sosa Cameron · Post by **Martin Sosa Cameron** » 26 Oct 2007, 16:21

Actor and producer John Huston was fighter

Ambling Alp · Post by **Ambling Alp** » 26 Oct 2007, 16:33

I think we had a similar thread a while back. Anyway, another celebrity is Richard Dawson (Hogan's Heroes, Match Game,Family Feud.) He fought as an amateur.

Martin Sosa Cameron · Post by **Martin Sosa Cameron** » 26 Oct 2007, 16:49

Eduardo Mallea, the great Argentinian writer, various times near of the Nobel prize, was University amateur boxing champion

dagosd2000 · Post by **dagosd2000** » 26 Oct 2007, 18:30

I just remembered. Tim Moore who played the Kingfish on the Amos and Andy TV show boxed under the name of Young Jack Johnson. There were many black fighters that used that moniker.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 30 Oct 2007, 00:36

..buddy ebson played jed clampett and was the scarecrow in the wizard of oz. hard for me too to think of him as a boxer....seems he would have got the stuffing knocked out of him. har har.

(he began his career as a loose limbed dancer and was very popular in the movies in the thirties and early forties in that role. made a film comeback in a small but excellent performance as holly golightly's (audrey hepburn) father in breakfast at tiffany's.

we once had a conversation. i said "hello" and he said "Hi there."

delisa · Post by **delisa** » 30 Oct 2007, 11:41

The George Reeves boxing connection is a complete fabrication by his publicist -- he never boxed

generic screen name · Post by **generic screen name** » 31 Oct 2007, 00:47

NFL defensive end/steroid abuser, Mark Gastineau and his fantastic mullet tried, I beleive he got KTFO by someone.

MEISINGER · Post by **MEISINGER** » 31 Oct 2007, 06:18

boy george was a highly rated amateur middleweight in england

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:42

..the title of this thread got me wondering....are there any UNfamous celebreties?

THE DANCING MASTER · Post by **THE DANCING MASTER** » 31 Oct 2007, 23:52

Robert Ryan boxed at one time. That is probably why he was so good in The Setup.

Jaclem, it was Ray Bolger who played The Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz. Buddy Ebsen was in line for The Tinman but I believe he had some sort of reaction to the silver makeup on his face and couldn't do the role. Jack Haley then got the part.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 01 Nov 2007, 13:59

..dancing master....wow, am i embarrassed!!!!of course it was ray bolger as the scarecrow!!!! after the movie came out i was known for doing the scarecrow dance as i walked home from the picture, and then did it in school as we walked to classes!!! shame on me, as movies are one of my "specialties" and at one time the library used to call me at home to answer movie questions. I'm worried now that boxbuzz may be right about the quickening vanishing of my brain cells!!

your are right on the nose about ebsen and the allergy. turned out good for the movie. ebsen was great but his style was much like ray bolger's which wouldn't fit with the stiffness required of the tin man.

i feel i have lost all credibillaty (not even sure about the spelling of that word.)

okay...maybe this will help...when a company wanted ray bolger to recreate the scarecrow for a commercial, bolger said he had too much repect for the character and declined, so bobby van did it instead.

how can i deal with my humiliation????

Seamus · Post by **Seamus** » 01 Nov 2007, 14:40

I saw footage of Mickey Rourke and he was horrible. I don't think Geraldo is half as good as he thinks he is either.

Larry Fine and Terrence Trent D'Arby boxed, as did Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers. Gerry was supposedly a pretty good amateur in his native Liverpool, and considered going pro some day, but decided to embark on a musical career instead, after life long friend Alan Rudkin knocked him silly in a sparring session. Roger Daltrey also did some boxing as a youth, and was known to be a little man with a big punch. In his 20's he scored quick stoppage wins over P Townsend and K Moon.

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 01 Nov 2007, 22:03

Great Bluesman Willie Dixon fought amateur here in Chicago and had a few pro fights.
He wrote "Hoochie Coochie Man".

Seamus · Post by **Seamus** » 01 Nov 2007, 22:58

Willie Dixon was a pretty good amateur. He used to get speakers from some friends of mine who had on a store just east of 59th-Kedzie. Dixon wrote alot of blues classics. His nephew also murdered Ben Wilson the number 1 ranked HS basketball player in the country.

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 01 Nov 2007, 23:05

Seamus wrote:Willie Dixon was a pretty good amateur. He used to get speakers from some friends of mine who had on a store just east of 59th-Kedzie. Dixon wrote alot of blues classics. His nephew also murdered Ben Wilson the number 1 ranked HS basketball player in the country.

Whoa , didnt know that about dixons nephew and Wilson.
I have to admit you know your way around this city Seamus.

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 02 Nov 2007, 02:10

Norman Wisdom was a boxer in his youth. Very agile and light on his feet he was in those peculiar films he starred in.

Buster Merryfield did a bit in his youth too.

As did Eamonn Andrews.

And the dude who starred in the brillians movie "Sexy Beast", Ray Winstone, was a useful amateur.

Joe Richmond · Post by **Joe Richmond** » 18 Nov 2007, 20:34

Think I read somewhere that Robert Mitchum had tried boxing as a youth? :P

Famous Celebrities Who Tried Their Hand at Boxing

Famous Celebrities Who Tried Their Hand at Boxing

Danny Trejo

The Kingfish

Celebrities in boxing