Mickey Rourke has revived his boxing career at 62 to fight a professional boxer in Moscow this month.
The American actor, who starred in Angel Heart and The Wrestler, was a successful amateur in the early seventies and turned pro in the Nineties, when he received severe facial injuries.
He said: “Boxing is a serious part of my life. It taught me respect, determination, patience and concentration. I always dreamt of fighting in Russia.”
The hell-raising star will take to the ring with 29-year-old American Elliot Seymour on November 28.
Rourke is a frequent visitor to Russia and has been romantically linked to the Russian-born model Anastassija Makarenko.
Russian sports manager Maxim Kornilov said: “Given his age he is in perfect shape.
“He continues training for the fight. I think he’ll cope because he has a wealth of experience.”
