Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke wins exhibition boxing bout

(28 Nov 2014) Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke returned to the boxing ring Friday at the age of 62, defeating a fighter less than half his age in an exhibition bout. Rourke sent 29-year-old Pasadena, California native Elliot Seymour to the canvas twice in the second round before the referee stopped the fight. The bout at a Moscow concert hall was Rourke’s first fight in 20 years. He took a break from acting in the early 1990s, finishing a three-year pro boxing career with six wins and two draws. He hinted that the return to the ring has helped him cope with unspecified personal issues. He took to the ring in a Stetson hat, a red-and-gold robe and shiny gold gloves. Rourke, who had said he lost 35 lbs (16 kilograms) to prepare to the fight, was much thinner than in his best-known cinematic fighting persona, when he bulked up to play the title character in 2008’s “The Wrestler.“ His shorts bore his ring nickname from the 1990s, Marielito, with a Spanish-language message reading “always handsome.“ The fight was held at a pedestrian pace, with both Rourke and Seymour frequently backing away from one another and letting down their guard. Several of Rourke’s punches appeared illegal. His final punch struck the stumbling Seymour on the buttocks and the 29-year-old went down to all fours until the referee stopped the contest. Seymour, a former California Golden Gloves champion with a 1-9 pro record, did not land any significant blows on Rourke, whose previous boxing career left him with injuries that he has previously said necessitated extensive plastic surgery to his face. Rourke has said he plans to hold another four fights in Russia. Speaking to journalists on Friday, he said he won’t fight anywhere else. “Because they appreciate me here,“ he added. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: