Denzel Washington Knows Sylvester Stallone Can’t Beat Him in Boxing: “I’d knock him out”

Denzel Washington has played roles in every genre of the industry with remarkable versatility. However, in the plethora of projects under his belt, The Hurricane showcased his talents in the boxing ring as well. The actor played the role of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and prepared ruthlessly to hone his boxing skills for the project.

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky (1976) || Credits: United Artists

But this sport was not just limited to the movie, and he also incorporated the same in his real life as well, given its several benefits. Over the years, Washington has become quite confident in his boxing techniques. Not only that, but he even declared that he could easily defeat the Rocky actor with a knockout punch.

Denzel Washington Says Sylvester Stallone Is No Match for Him in Boxing

Denzel Washington was the talk of the town in the 1990s, with several highly acclaimed projects to his name. But The Hurricane brought a new light to his career, in which he played professional boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. And just like any other sports-based movie, he followed intensive training to play the role.

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky (1976) || Credits: United Artists

However, it seems like he might have honed his skills way too much when he decided to challenge the legendary Sylvester Stallone. Interestingly, before The Hurricane, it was Stallone’s Rocky, released in 1976, that truly showcased what a movie based on a boxer should be like.

But with his boxing skills, Washington was confident he’d be able to not only tackle Stallone but also win a match against him as well. In an interview, he added:

If I was boxing Sylvester Stallone. No he couldn’t be exactly. (Further) Well not boxing maybe wrestling maybe if you got a grip on me. But boxing no I’d knock him out.

While the actor detailed everything in a lighthearted manner, Stallone’s Rocky has a golden history of its own. It was the first film in what has become one of Hollywood’s most successful franchises. In addition to its box-office success, it earned 10 Academy Award nominations and won 3 of them.

To make matters more interesting, Stallone wrote the screenplay for the same in just three days. While both actors are decades apart in their career trajectory, it’s safe to say that both of them portrayed the iconic boxers to the core.

How a Major Injury Almost Wrecked Stallone’s Participation in Rocky II?

Sylvester Stallone, with his remarkable acting and career choices, has truly made an indelible mark on Hollywood. The actor is known for several of his highly acclaimed projects. But out of the lot, his participation in Rocky definitely stands the tallest.

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky (1976) || Credits: United Artists

The second installment picks up the events just after the first movie. In this, the underdog boxer is showcased as he fights a rematch with World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed. Rocky manages to finish and win the match with a knockout punch. In this, his character also had a detached retina injury and had to fight some part of the match right-handedly.

According to an interview, the actor revealed that while training extensively for Rocky II, he tore his pectoral muscle completely off the bone. Initially, he thought his career was over, but this injury inspired the character’s need to switch up his fighting style. He added:

So, I go down, and it’s maybe only 200 [lbs]. I’m just warming up, and I hear a POW! I fall on the floor. And Franco [Columbu, Stallone’s trainer] goes, ‘Let me see.’ He jams his fingers — I’ve torn my pec off the bone. I mean, bad. I could hear it go rip, and he’s jamming his fingers. And I think I’m going to black out.

This unexpected decision to switch his style turned out to be a pivotal factor in his win against Creed. What was initially seen as a major roadblock for the movie turned out to be a clever move by Stallone.

So, this twist not only added more narrative but also contributed to the movie’s overall success at the box office.