How Actor Will Smith Outdid Boxing Legend Roy Jones Jr. for His Role in Ali

Published 04/07/2022, 2:06 AM EDT

For the past week, social media has been buzzing with one specific news. Following the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars, there has been plentiful content all over the internet. By unfortunate means, a controversy has now overshadowed the biggest moment of the King Richard star’s cinematic career.

Irrespective of the judgments and reviews Smith received, one cannot at all question his dedication to playing a role. Indeed, he brings life to the characters that he portrays on screen. His hard work in delving deeper into the souls of individuals he plays vividly shows. Take Ali (2001) as an example.

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Smith literally wrapped himself under the charred skins of boxing legend, ‘the double greatest’, Muhammad Ali. Significantly, his interpretation of Ali displayed sincerity, brilliance, and an on-point understanding of the athlete. However, the fact that Smith put on more muscle than heavyweight legend, Roy Jones Jr. to become heavyweight Ali is still a lesser-known fact.

Ali was the first movie that got the Men in Black star, his first nomination for Oscar. His mirroring of Muhammad Ali’s movement was impressive. But, footwork or body movement weren’t the only factors that made actor Smith stand out. Simultaneously, to have a physique as good and equal as Ali, Smith put on some weight.

Will Smith and his exceptional portrayal of Ali

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In order to replicate the legend as accurately as possible, he gained a whopping 35lbs. Interestingly, 15lbs extra than what Roy Jones Jr. had gained when he fought Andy Ruiz on 1st March 2003. Roy Jones Jr. had to pack 20lbs to move up to heavyweight from middleweight in the fight he made history.

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Roy Jones Jr. became the first-ever former middleweight in 106 years to win a heavyweight belt. But, along with glory, he faced bitter consequences. Once he got back to his former weight category, he never recovered his quickness.

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However, for the I, Robot hit-maker, the weight he gained added satisfactorily to the movie Ali‘s success.

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Samrat Sardar is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports and is currently a final year undergraduate student of English literature. A passionate content creator, he has been writing since his high school days, and possesses work experience as a commercial writer for companies such as WordsKraft among others. Samrat believes he fell in love with boxing the day he watched Vasiliy Lomachenko share the ring with Guillermo Rigondeaux.

How Actor Will Smith Outdid Boxing Legend Roy Jones Jr. for His Role in Ali

Will Smith and his exceptional portrayal of Ali

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