Sylvester Stallone, renowned for his iconic roles in boxing sagas, recently took to Instagram to share a pretty funny revelation about his co-star in the 2013 sports comedy, “Grudge Match.” In the video, Stallone playfully disclosed that Robert De Niro, his co-star and a legendary actor known for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull,” was the “worst boxer” he had ever encountered in the “whole universe.”
The dynamic duo teamed up in “Grudge Match,” where they portrayed aging boxers driven by a bitter rivalry and a reluctance to retire from the ring. Despite the film’s comedic elements and a stellar supporting cast featuring Kevin Hart and Kim Basinger, it failed to make a significant impact at the box office.
: “… He kind of admitted it, \[saying] ‘I don’t know what to do, point me in the right direction,’” says Stallone. “And I said; I’ll do my best but I’m warning you, your Oscars aren’t gonna save you in here! So, keep punching Bobby.”
Stallone recounted his initial expectations, anticipating that De Niro, given his memorable role in “Raging Bull,” would be a formidable opponent onscreen. However, Stallone humorously described the moment when De Niro stepped into the ring, noting visible signs of nervousness in his knees and likening his boxing gloves to lobster claws. Stallone jokingly declared,
“You’re a great actor, but you’re the worst boxer I’ve ever seen in the whole universe.”
Acknowledging the age factor, with De Niro being 70 at the time of the film’s release and Stallone at 67, the playful banter continued. Stallone revealed that De Niro sought guidance, admitting uncertainty about his boxing prowess. In response, Stallone offered assistance but humorously warned that De Niro’s Oscars wouldn’t save him in the boxing ring, emphasizing the need to keep throwing punches.
