Where’s a stunt double when you need him?
Mickey Rourke is taking another swing at boxing, facing an opponent less than half his age in a bout in Moscow Friday that comes more than 20 years after the last time he entered the ring.
The 62-year-old actor, who put his Hollywood career on hold for three years in the early ’90s for a career change into professional pugilism, is on the undercard for a five-round bout at the Rossiya concert hall in downtown Moscow.
“Boxing is a serious part of my life,” Rourke told the Russian state news agency Tass in a statement.
“It taught me respect and determination, patience and concentration. I always dreamed of fighting a match in Russia.”
But any bookies who think Rourke will be manhandled by 29-year-old American boxer Elliot Seymour haven’t seen the photos that emerged Wednesday of the hulking star of the “The Wrestler” putting on a pretty convincing performance during a sparring session.
“Given his age 62 years old — he is in a perfect shape,” Russian sports manager Maxim Kornilov told TASS.
The actor reportedly dropped 33 pounds training for his Moscow bout and has famed trainer Freddie Roach, who worked with Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson, in his corner.
The last time Rourke stepped into the ring, however, it was in a 1994 draw against Sean Gibbons. Rourke’s leading-man looks took a pummeling during his stint as a professional boxer, the effects of which seemed to hurt his movie career.
Since his comeback role in 2004’s “Sin City,” however, Rourke has reemerged as a Hollywood heavyweight.
