MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Mickey Rourke, the Hollywood star who is about to revive his boxing career at 62, has long been dreaming about a boxing match in Russia, the press service of the Mir Boksa (Boxing World) promotion company said on Wednesday.
Earlier reports said Rourke will appear in a five-round match versus the 29-year-old professional boxer Elliot Seymour in Moscow on November 28.
"Boxing is a serious part of my life,” Rourke was quoted as saying. “It taught me respect and determination, patience and concentration. I always dreamed of fighting a match in Russia."
Rourke, whose CV includes a long enough engagement in professional boxing before he took up a career in acting, began to do this sport at the age of twelve. He made a brief comeback to the ring in 1991 and drew his last fight versus Sean Gibbons of the U.S. in 1994.
The actor who received a Gold Globe for starring in ‘The Wrestler’ in 2008 is being coached by Freddie Roach, a boxing celebrity who has coached Michael Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya at various times of his career.
Rourke has had eight professional matches, of which he won six /with the aid of knock-out blows in four cases/ and ended another two in a draw.
Mickey Rourke is in a perfect bodily condition and he has had spars with young boxers in Russia, sports manager Maxim Kornilov told TASS. He represents the interests of the former world champion in welterweight, Ruslan Provodnikov.
“Given his age 62 years old - he is in a perfect shape,” Kornilov said. “He continues training for the fight now.”
“Mickey did appear in spars with young boxers and we’ll wait and see his performance on the prize-ring,” he said. “I think he’ll cope with the task because he has a wealth of experience.