Joe Calzaghe has revealed his ambitions to expand his growing CV by heading for Hollywood.
The former undisputed super-middleweight world champion starred in Strictly Come Dancing after hanging up his gloves in 2008 and after reportedly admitting he has lost interest in his own promotional firm, has set his sights on joining former football hardman Vinnie Jones on the big screen.
“He may not be Al Pacino or (Robert) De Niro but he (Jones) pulls off a certain role,” Calzaghe told City AM. “I don’t think I’ll win an Oscar but I can play a badass, because I’ve been a badass all my career.”
With the Welshman planning to make an unusual career change, we take a look at 10 of his peers who have turned their hand to colourful sidelines.
RIDDICK BOWE – MARINE
The fearsome former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world decided he wanted to join the US Marine Corps after twice beating Andrew Golota only by disqualification in the mid-1990s. However, he lasted less than two weeks in basic training before securing a rapid release.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER – WRESTLER
Joining the likes of Primo Carnera, Mike Tyson and Joe Louis, Mayweather enjoyed a lucrative but brief stint in professional wrestling, going up against the ‘Big Show’ and using brass knuckles to beat the giant at WWE’s Wrestlemania 2008.
RENDALL MUNROE – BIN MAN
Leicester’s European super-bantamweight champion and world title contender really is a true man of the people, attracting hordes of supporters wearing high-visibility vests to his fights in tribute to his ongoing employment as a council bin man.
DAVID HAYE – MODEL
The WBA heavyweight champion is quite proud of his modelling portfolio, having posed for designer Versace and American brand Abercrombie and Fitch in his younger days. The Londoner has so far kept his looks too, despite his 24 professional fights.
JOE LOUIS – CASINO GREETER
The Brown Bomber was left penniless and in huge debt by the United States Government’s ruthless pursuit of money he owed due to changes in the tax system during and after World War Two. A philanthropic patriot who donated a number of purses to the war effort and even enlisted in the army, he spent his final years earning a living as a celebrity greeter at Caesar’s Palace.
JAKE LAMOTTA – STAND-UP COMIC
Immortalised by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, former middleweight world champion LaMotta capitalised on his celebrity status by becoming a publican and stand-up comic – and was reportedly pretty poor at both. Also acted in a number of films.
SUGAR RAY ROBINSON – TAP DANCER
LaMotta’s great rival had always been a man of many talents. Arguably the greatest boxer in the history of the sport, Robinson was less accomplished as a professional dancer but undoubtedly had a flair for the stage and was renowned for his charisma, style, tap-dancing and singing ability.
GEORGE FOREMAN – ENTREPRENEUR
While countless fighters have seen their fortune evaporate due to failed business ventures, former world heavyweight champion Foreman has made more money since finally retiring from the sport than he ever did in the ring. Undoubtedly most famous for the George Foreman Grill he endorses, Foreman also has other successful businesses as well as a television career.
MANNY PACQUIAO – POLITICIAN
The current pound-for-pound champion is a national hero in the Philippines and has ambitions to repay the support of his people by taking office. Having unsuccessfully campaigned for a seat in congress in 2007, Pacman is running again in May.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA – POP STAR
The 1992 Olympic gold medalist and popular heart-throb released a self-titled Latino pop album in 2000. While reviews were mixed, it proved surprisingly popular and ‘The Golden Boy’ was even nominated for a Grammy award. It proved to be his first and only release to date.
