pollux

Mickey Rourke began taking acting lessons in highschool. But at that time he also developed a love for boxing that never left him. While still in his teens, he became an amateur boxer. That record of his was 20 wins, 4 losses, and 17 kos. Twelve of those knockouts were in a row. He never fought in the Golden Gloves.

Tedsares, you are right about the unspectacular records of most of his professional opponents. One had lost his six previous bouts.
Rourke played a professional boxer in the 1988 film
Hometown Boy, which you can find on video.

Fat City was the 1972 film about an aging fighter, played by Stacy Keach, trying for a comeback. His character befriends a novice boxer portrayed by
Jeff Bridges. It's director was John Huston, who had been the California lightweight amateur champion.