Professional Boxing Career
In 1991, Rourke decided that he "had to go back to boxing" because he felt that he "was self-destructing ... (and) had no respect for (himself as) an actor." Rourke was undefeated in eight fights, with six wins (four by knockout) and two draws. He fought internationally in countries including Spain, Japan and Germany.
During his boxing career, Rourke suffered a number of injuries, including a broken nose, toe, ribs, a split tongue, and a compressed cheekbone. He also suffered from short term memory loss.
His trainer during most of his boxing career was Hells Angels member, actor and celebrity bodyguard Chuck Zito. Freddie Roach also trained Rourke for seven fights. Rourke's entrance song into the ring was often Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine."
Boxing promoters said that Rourke was too old to succeed against top-level fighters. Indeed, Rourke himself admits that entering the ring was a sort of personal test: " just wanted to give it a shot, test myself that way physically, while I still had time." In 1990, Rourke retired from boxing and returned to acting.
Rourke's boxing career resulted in a notable physical change in the 1990s, as his face needed reconstructive surgery to mend his injuries. His face was later called "appallingly disfigured." In 2009, the actor told The Daily Mail that he had gone to "the wrong guy" for his surgery, and that his plastic surgeon had left his features "a mess."
| Professional Boxing Record | |||||||
| 6 Wins (4 knockouts, 2 decisions), 0 Losses, 2 Draws | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Draw | 6–0–2 | Sean Gibbons | MD | 4 | September 8, 1994 | Davie, Florida | |
| Win | 6–0–1 | Thomas McCoy | TKO | 3 (4) | November 20, 1993 | Hamburg, Germany | |
| Win | 5–0–1 | Bubba Stotts | TKO | 3 (4) | July 24, 1993 | Joplin, Missouri | |
| Win | 4–0–1 | Tom Bentley | KO | 1 (4) | March 30, 1993 | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Win | 3–0–1 | Terry Jesmer | PTS | 4 | December 12, 1992 | Oviedo, Spain | |
| Draw | 2–0–1 | Francisco Harris | MD | 4 | April 25, 1992 | Miami Beach, Florida | Scoring was 38–39 for Harris, 38–38 and 38–38. |
| Win | 2–0 | Darrell Miller | KO | 1 (4), 2:14 | June 23, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Steve Powell | UD | 4 | May 23, 1991 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | In his professional boxing debut, Rourke jabbed and uppercut, but he also danced, clowned and taunted the crowd throughout the fight. The boxers were constantly in clinches, two of which sent Powell through the ropes. Rourke managed to land several solid rights, particularly in the final two rounds. Scoring was 38–37, 38–37 and 39–37. |
Read more about this topic: Mickey Rourke, Career
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