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Ving Rhames has played tough guys before. In fact, most of his films tend to have him play a strong willed character, with the exception of a few such as 'I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' and 'Holiday Heart'. In what will probably be his biggest role since playing famed boxing promoter Don King in 'Don King: Only in America', Rhames will play heavyweight boxer Sonny Liston in the biopic 'Phantom Punch', which Robert Townsend will direct.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Phantom" will chronicle Liston's rise to fame as a boxer and the single "phantom punch" he took at the hands of Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) that many believe led to the demise of his career.
Liston was the 24th of 25 children born to an Arkansas sharecropper. Prone to violence, he at one point served prison time for robbing a gas station and another for beating up a police officer. He turned to fighting as a way to gain respect and became world heavyweight champion in 1962.
While he was known to have ties to the mob -- and one of the most potent punches in heavyweight division history -- the boxer is best remembered for the incident that took place just two minutes into the 1965 bout with Ali. The fighter -- who had seldom been knocked to his feet -- went down from what was long debated as a felonious punch. The photograph from the fight's conclusion was forever immortalized on the cover of "Sports Illustrated."
This wouldn't be the first time we have seen Rhames on the big screen in the boxing ring. In 2002, Rhames boxed against Wesley Sniped in 'Undisputed'.
Townsend is known for directing the musical film, 'The Five Heartbeats.'
'Phantom Punch' was written by Ryan Combs and Hassain Zaidi and Marek Posival are producing the independently-financed film, which began production Monday in Toronto and is scheduled to finish in early December
Comments: (14)
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By: G C on 11/01/2007 2:45AM
I respect freedom of the press and freedom of speech. However, today I think it is important, to give consideration to image, when you see how young African Americans men or killing each other off daily. Why use a great like actor Denzel Wasington in the villainous lead in the American Gangsta movie. Or have the equally great actor Ving Rhames, play Sonny Liston, who had stretches of armed robbery, and assualt; he was arrested 19 times. Now Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested multiple timetoo, but look at why he was arrested_____ Cause and Effect_____ and what came out of it? Mr Kings arrests made it possible for millions of paople to be free in the realms of human dignty, and equality. I don't think that was the intentions of Mr. Liston;nor Mr. Lucas the Man Denzel is protraying, in the movie American Gansta. It's been documented that Mr. Lucas Made a million dollars a day during his run back in the 70's, from selling heroine in the streets of Harlem, now how many lives were destroyed because of that. During this same era in the early 70's there was movie made, called Super Fly, with actor Ron O'Neal in the lead. Super Fly was about young Fly Harlem cocaine dealer,named Priest Youngblood who takes on the mob. I remember young kids trying to emulate Priest, by waering the platform shoes, Long coats, wide brim hats, and wearing there hair in the process style. WRONG SIGNAL FOR OUR YOUTH, PERIOD!!
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By: Henry Ballard on 11/01/2007 6:05AM
This guys is nothing but a bum. I could have been a contendor.
Mugsy Malone
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By: Charles Simpson on 11/22/2007 1:45PM
Nobody says anything about Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Robert Deniro, and the list goes on and on of Hollywood ganster players. These peoople are gteat actors doing what great actors do. Why when Ving Rhames or Denzel Washington do their jobs telling stories about a real life gansters as Ray Liota and Deniro did, and Jack Nicholson, is there a problem. I call it racism.
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By: al on 12/18/2007 12:02AM
Gee ,I agree with most of what you say But I have a much higher respect for Sonnys true ranking as a fighter.Most people don't realize that he was 45 or close to 50yrs old when he fought Ali.And if you watch the first fight you will see that even at such an advanced age he was able to land his jab and hurt Ali to the body early in the fight.Don't forget also that the second fight was canceled because Ali had a hernia operation.Some say that Dundee had spys watching Liston training and decided to postpone due to what they reported back to him.Liston was tired of fighting and did a terrible acting job in Lewiston.I feel that Liston in his prime would have beaten Ali,Tyson and most of the heavy champs.He did have issues but I feel that he was a nice guy in a bad envirnoment so he played the part.
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