Antipodean hunk Russell Crowe already has something of a reputation as a tough guy. But any lingering doubts about his hardman status will soon be KO'd, as the hunky actor has started taking boxing lessons from Joe Bugner.
Russell decided to consult the former heavyweight champion to help him prepare for his latest movie. In Cinderella Man, the 39-year-old plays legendary 30s fighter James J Braddock. And Bugner, who twice went the distance with Muhammed Ali, has promised to make Russ even tougher than he is now.
"I told Russell that pro boxing is a very dangerous business and even in the sparring sessions we'll be doing, when we're all padded up, he'll have to concentrate hard on what's going on or he can get hurt…
"Both physically and mentally Russell made an excellent first impression on me as someone who could convincingly play a world heavyweight champion. In the flesh he has an even more imposing physical presence than on the screen - and he sure looked as if he had plenty of muscle when I saw him in Gladiator.
But there's more to being a boxing champ than just looking tough, and Joe has pledged to transform Russell into a lean, mean fighting machine. "After six weeks in the ring with me, he will come out knowing a lot more about how to handle himself in a fight," he said.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
