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| Rourke (R), 1991 State Archives of Florida |
Among highly publicized events at Fort Lauderdale’s War Memorial Auditorium during its decades-old history was actor Mickey Rourke’s professional boxing debut in 1991.
In March 1991 Sal Cherch, an entrepreneur and boxing promoter from Lauderhill, spotted Rourke at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach and asked him if he’d like to participate in a match two months later. Rourke, already a well-known actor (and nearly an icon in France) agreed. He had chalked up a number of amateur fights during the 1970s and continued to train, sometimes at the Miami Beach gym. Cherch picked May 23 as the date because he planned to donate event profits to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 23.
Rourke, 34, would fight part time mechanic Steve Powell, 33, from the Fort Lauderdale area. Powell, a Medfield, MA native, came to South Florida less than a decade before and opened an auto garage in Oakland Park. He was also a boxer. By 1991, he had scored four wins out of eight professional bouts. Powell had just won a match in the Bahamas and was reportedly known for a strong right jab. He was promised $300 for a four-round fight with Rourke.
Thanks to Rourke’s team, the media expected to see a roster of celebrities including Don Johnson and wife Melanie Griffith, Kim Basinger, Sylvester Stallone and Gene Hackman. About 2,400 showed up to watch Rourke, a 168-pound super middle weight, duke it out with the part-time mechanic. Of the spectators about 375 presented press credentials. The event was expected to be a Hollywood story, if not a memorable boxing match.
The celebrity list of those who actually appeared at War Memorial that night was a short one. Counted among the famous was boxing promoter-trainer Angelo Dundee, fighters Leon Spinks and Alexis Arguello, Rourke’s girlfriend actress Carre Otis (Wild Orchid) and Robert Conrad who left “in disgust” after round 3.
Rourke, booed several times, reportedly connected a few questionable jabs to the back of Powell’s head. He also lifted and pushed Powell a few times through the ropes, more befitting a wrestling match rather than a boxing bout.
The four-round fight was called in a decision (no surprise) for Rourke. Two judges scored 38-37, the third judge, 39-37. The real winner was the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 23. As promised, Cherch donated the night’s profits, $8,553 to the group a few weeks later. The match took in $45,846 and costs were assessed at $37,293.
Mickey Rourke grew up in Miami and Miami Beach and attended Nautilus Junior High and Miami Beach High before his boxing and acting days. He went on to fight several more times in other cities after the Fort Lauderdale match. His acting career has captured far more headlines than have his pugilistic pursuits.
A fan of boxing (and of Rourke), I would have attended that match had I been in town, though I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much as his Pope of Greenwich Village, a film favorite.
Rourke, 34, would fight part time mechanic Steve Powell, 33, from the Fort Lauderdale area. Powell, a Medfield, MA native, came to South Florida less than a decade before and opened an auto garage in Oakland Park. He was also a boxer. By 1991, he had scored four wins out of eight professional bouts. Powell had just won a match in the Bahamas and was reportedly known for a strong right jab. He was promised $300 for a four-round fight with Rourke.
Thanks to Rourke’s team, the media expected to see a roster of celebrities including Don Johnson and wife Melanie Griffith, Kim Basinger, Sylvester Stallone and Gene Hackman. About 2,400 showed up to watch Rourke, a 168-pound super middle weight, duke it out with the part-time mechanic. Of the spectators about 375 presented press credentials. The event was expected to be a Hollywood story, if not a memorable boxing match.
The celebrity list of those who actually appeared at War Memorial that night was a short one. Counted among the famous was boxing promoter-trainer Angelo Dundee, fighters Leon Spinks and Alexis Arguello, Rourke’s girlfriend actress Carre Otis (Wild Orchid) and Robert Conrad who left “in disgust” after round 3.
Rourke, booed several times, reportedly connected a few questionable jabs to the back of Powell’s head. He also lifted and pushed Powell a few times through the ropes, more befitting a wrestling match rather than a boxing bout.
The four-round fight was called in a decision (no surprise) for Rourke. Two judges scored 38-37, the third judge, 39-37. The real winner was the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 23. As promised, Cherch donated the night’s profits, $8,553 to the group a few weeks later. The match took in $45,846 and costs were assessed at $37,293.
Mickey Rourke grew up in Miami and Miami Beach and attended Nautilus Junior High and Miami Beach High before his boxing and acting days. He went on to fight several more times in other cities after the Fort Lauderdale match. His acting career has captured far more headlines than have his pugilistic pursuits.
A fan of boxing (and of Rourke), I would have attended that match had I been in town, though I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much as his Pope of Greenwich Village, a film favorite.
Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan
Sources:
Miami
Herald, Dec. 30, 1990
Miami Herald,
April 8, 1991
South
Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 23, 1991
South
Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 24, 1991
Miami
Herald, June 9, 1991
Tags: Boxing, celebrities in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale history, history of Fort Lauderdale, Mickey Rourke, Jane Feehan