Usher To Play Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard In Upcoming Film With Robert Dinero
R&B King Usher Raymond is about to switch uniforms and try his hands again literally at acting as he’ll be playing boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming biography Hands Of Stone.
Hands Of Stone will be a biography about boxing legend Roberto Duran whose nickname is “Hands Of Stone.”
Leonard and Duran had three classic fights during their rivalry including the infamous “No Mas” fight when Duran said he had enough and ended his own beating.
Speaking with The Associated Press, Usher revealed that he still needs to lose about 25 pounds before the role begins shooting in Panama, Duran’s country, in October. He currently weighs around 172 pounds and needs to be around 150 pounds once filming begins.
Preparing for the role, the singer revealed,
“You couldn’t find a more stylized boxer than Sugar Ray Leonard. He was an incredible motion guy, the way he moved around the ring, and I think my dancing will make it easier for me to pick up his moves. I’ve been working on familiarizing myself with the ring, sparring and just understanding how to move in the ring.”
Usher said he has had long conversations with Leonard and will meet him in person in coming weeks.
“He had such incredible discipline, and he was flashy and classy at the same time,” said Usher, who’s been studying videos from Leonard’s boxing days. “I want to be as passionate and dedicated in preparing for this role as he was every time he stepped into the ring.”
Edgar Ramirez will star as Roberto Duran in the film and Robert De Niro will play Duran’s Hall Of Fame trainer Ray Arcel.
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