Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone is popularly known for his role as Rocky Balboa in the ‘Rocky’ film franchise. He was reportedly offered an opportunity to work with boxing legend Mike Tyson, but he declined due to safety concerns.
The Rocky film series premiered in 1976, and it catapulted Stallone to worldwide fame and gained a massive following that has not waned over the years. Stallone worked alongside real-life boxers such as Antonio Carver and Dolph Lundgren while filming the movies.
But when Mike Tyson expressed interest in appearing as one of Stallone’s antagonists, Stallone rejected the offer.
Stallone said to Boxing Scene that he turned down the opportunity. He said: “Mike wanted to fight me in this film but I thought it was a bad idea. I know I’m not that young, but I’m still too young to die.”
“I said, ‘Thanks, but I don’t think that would be a very good idea. Thank you very much.’ But he kept calling the office saying he wanted to be in the film fighting me.”
After all the calls, Stallone ultimately allowed Tyson to appear ringside in the film in a cameo role. However, he was still concerned for his safety and warned the crew to keep Tyson out of the ring.
Stallone said, “Can you make sure you keep that son of a b***h out of the ring. If he gets in he’ll kill me.’ The man’s a killer.”
The boxing legend is undoubtedly feared and respected by fellow combat sports competitors and enthusiasts. Recently, Tyson has expressed interest in competing against Logan Paul, although he doubts that Paul is serious about the match. Tyson acknowledged that he played a role in Paul’s success and expressed happiness for the YouTuber’s accomplishments.
He said to Forbes: “When I see [Logan Paul] looking good and doing well, I always stick up for him because when he makes all the money himself, I get the credit, too. Because without me he would have never had a platform.”
“I don’t think he’s really that serious [about a boxing match], but I’m just happy he’s receiving the success that the has. For my ego, I feel I had so much to do with that.”
Adam Miller is a talented writer with a passion for the UFC. As a UFC writer for Calfkicker, he’s found a way to combine his love for the sport with his gift for words. With a diploma in journalism and mass communication, Adam has a deep understanding of how to craft compelling content that resonates with readers.
Before finding his niche in the world of UFC writing, Adam worked as a freelance link builder and content writer. His diverse range of clients and businesses allowed him to hone his craft and develop a unique perspective that sets him apart from other writers in the field.