Oleksandr Usyk lands major Hollwood gig alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson after win over Tyson Fury
OLEKSANDR USYK is to appear alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his Hollywood debut.
WWE legend Johnson will star in and produce The Smashing Machine – a biopic of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr’s life.
AFPOleksandr Usyk is to appear alongside The Rock in his Hollywood debut[/caption]
GettyIgor Vovchanchyn will be played by Usyk[/caption]
SplashThe Rock is playing the role of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr[/caption]
GettyMark Kerr was nicknamed The Smashing Machine[/caption]
Johnson will play Kerr, who’s cage nickname has been used as the title of the movie.
And Usyk – fresh of his victory over Tyson Fury – is due to portray ex-Ukrainian MMA star Igor Vovchanchyn.
Kerr twice fought Vovchanchyn in Japan, winning the 2000 rematch after their no-contest a year earlier.
Usyk must first get over his victory against Fury, with the battered Ukrainian being suspended from fighting.
It’ll mark his acting debut, however the former cruiserweight champion has switched careers before.
Bizarrely he signed for a football team in 2022.
He did also give a glimpse into how he could fare as an actor with the promo for his fight with Fury, with Usyk portraying a cowboy and a gladiator.
Usyk, 37, will not be the only fighter to feature in the film.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Ex-UFC heavyweight contender Ryan Bader, 40, has landed the role of Mark Coleman.
Coleman, now 59, famously mentored Kerr, 55, after previously competing against each other, later teaming up as a professional wrestling duo.
Oscar-nominated actress Emily Blunt will play Kerr’s ex-wife Dawn Staples, a former Playboy model.
The Rock recently revealed his training for Kerr – who gained The Smashing Machine nickname for his brutal fight style.
Johnson, 52, posted a video practising MMA strikes before a first-look at his role in the movie was released online.
The movie – set to be released this December – will be directed by Benny Safdie, known for his work with older brother Josh.
For all the love for resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr
A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.
He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour.
But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine?
Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?
Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down?
He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.
The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this.
The rematch will be superb.
Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read Wally’s big fight verdict in full here…
A first-look into The Rock’s role as Kerr
