Usher Prepping to Play Sugar Ray Leonard in Boxing Film ‘Hands of Stone’

Edgar Ramírez, Robert De Niro, and Usher at the ‘Hands of Stone’ Table Read

Usher says he’s “ getting ready ” for his role as boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard in Hands of Stone , an upcoming sports-drama film about Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran — one of Leonard’s biggest rivals.

The Jonathan Jakubowicz -directed film also stars Edgar Ramirez ( Zero Dark Thirty ) as Duran, Robert De Niro ( Silver Linings Playbook ) as Duran’s trainer Ray Arcel , Ryan Kwanten ( True Blood ) as Scottish boxer Ken Buchanan , and Cuban actress Ana de Armas as Felicidad Iglesias .

First Look: Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard from ‘Hands of Stone’ [PHOTOS]

Duran, who went on to defeat an unbeaten Leonard in June 1980 and claim the WBC welterweight title, lost the rematch several months later in the infamous “no mas” fight .

Roberto Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard (June1980)

Usher has reportedly been physically preparing for the role for over a year but still needs to lose about 25 pounds before shooting begins in October.

“You couldn’t find a more stylized boxer than Sugar Ray Leonard. He was an incredible motion guy, the way he moved around the ring, and I think my dancing will make it easier for me to pick up his moves. I’ve been working on familiarizing myself with the ring, sparring and just understanding how to move in the ring.”

Shot entirely in Panama and set to premiere in 2014, Hands of Stone serves as Usher’s first lead feature and De Niro’s third boxing film. Watch footage from both fights below.

Author