Hugh Jackman, Sugar Ray Leonard Talk Real Steel

Movie star Hugh Jackman, and legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard came by the Sirius XM studio to talk about the upcoming film Real Steel which opens this week.  Jackman plays a retired boxer who now manages robot boxers in the year 2020.  In order to prep for the film, Jackman worked extensively with the champ himself Sugar Ray Leonard.

Ron Bennington: Real Steel is coming into theaters this week. Hugh Jackman in with us, how are you my friend?

Hugh Jackman: Good Ronnie how are you doing man?

Ron Bennington: It’s good to see you. Now for people that haven’t see the trailers, and they’re everywhere, and the posters are everywhere– this is one of those really big movies– fighting robots.

Hugh Jackman: The year is 2020; robot boxing is the biggest sport on the planet. I play a guy who used to be a human boxer. No one’s interested in that anymore so he can’t make a living. So he’s desperately trying to make a living out of this. Oh here’s the man!

Ron Bennington: While we’re sitting here talking about boxers, look who walks in! Sugar Ray Leonard, how are you!

Hugh Jackman: the one, the only!

Ron Bennington: Hugh, let me ask you this. Is it still strange for you that you know Sugar Ray Leonard?

Hugh Jackson: Yes– beyond that, it’s a privilege. When I first met him, I was a little in awe. I’m a sports fan first and foremost. When they told me– I don’t know if you know this Ray– but they said to me, ‘we didn’t check with you, I’m very sorry, but we’ve hired Sugar Ray as a consultant, so he’ll be working with you on the boxing.’ I said, I’m sorry…are you asking me if its okay to have one of the greatest boxers of all time as my personal trainer? Yea. I’m fine.

Ron Bennington: Here you are, 1976 US Olympic Boxing Team– probably the greatest of all time. Leo Randolph is in there. Michael Spinks. Leon Spinks. And actually there was another gold medal winner on the team…

Sugar Ray Leonard: Howard Davis

Ron Bennington: Howard Davis was on that team! And after that was over, still…with all these great boxers…the entire world is talking about Ray Leonard. He was an immediate star after that.

Hugh Jackman: It’s fascinating to me what it is that makes someone a star.  Sugar Ray is remembered, beyond being one of the greatest boxers– as one of the great stars. We actually kind of talk about it in the movie. You know, we say there’s a few that have that x-factor, the panache, have style, have flair.

Sugar Ray: I think its integrity. Its respect. Qualities that are not really discussed or placed in boxing. Boxing is a poor man’s sport, it’s a wonderful sport, its made me who I am today. And, look where I am now? Training Hugh Jackman in an incredible movie, Real Steel. And I have the chance to talk about my sport, all over the world. I truly love it. I truly love what I’ve done.

Ron Bennington: So that kind of shadow boxing that you do– you trained for that with Ray Leonard, that’s crazy dude!

Hugh Jackman: Yea! I’ve been working a little bit down here in New York at this place called Aerospace for a few years. And I felt quietly confident that I was not going to embarrass myself but there was that moment where Ray’s like, okay let’s get to work [everyone laughs]. And he was unbelievable cause, beyond just how to throw a punch, how to look like a fighter. The scene is important because it’s really about someone coming to life, emotionally, doing what they love to do. And if there’s anyone who can show that in the way they box, it was Sugar Ray Leonard. Cause it’s not just technique, its emotion, its heart, its brain, its everything. I got to learn from the greatest boxer of all time and I never really got hit, it was kind of perfect.

Ron Bennington: Here’s the other thing too. The guys that he defeated in the ring, are really the greatest fighters too. You had Hitman at the time, Duran, Haggler. These are legends! Legends! And I think that also makes for a great fighter. Those guys had to bring something out of you too, don’t you think?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Without question and I’m glad you said that, because that applies now to Mayweather and Pacquiao. Because although the other guys are good fighters, they dominate the entire division, and that’s why it’s so highly anticipated that boxing fans want to see Mayweather and Pacquiao fight.

Ron Bennington: And when Ray Leonard fought, did the world not stop then? Everybody on the planet was on one side or the other. Everybody was waiting for these fights.

Hugh Jackman: I’m pretty sure most of the planet was on Sugar Ray’s side. Its true, he galvanized. And I think from my very amateur point of view, boxing could do a little more of what the NFL does, which is tell the story a little more about its stars. Create stars you need to care. You need to know the road through. Everyone followed Sugar Ray from the beginning and then it was like he was part of your family and I think they need to do more of that.

Sugar Ray Leonard: That’s why the UFC, the mixed martial arts have gained so much prominence. They’ve been doing what we used to do. Acknowledge the fighters. Tell who they are. Where they’re from. Why they do what they do. Now to just have two guys who dominate– again mixed martial arts is huge.

Hugh Jackman:  I’ve never asked you this question and this thing’s been coming into my mind all day. In Australia as we grew up, we don’t go in a lot for people who say ‘I’m the greatest.’ I remember there was a big thing in Australia with Ali saying that. People were like, wow man, this sounds too arrogant. And yet in a way I understand now, that boxers have to have a level of confidence, and have to talk a little bravado. Are you taught that? Were you ever coached in that way? With the media– you just did what you felt?

Sugar Ray Leonard: You can’t teach that kind of personality. You can’t give someone that naturally. Ali was Ali. Floyd Mayweather is just Floyd Mayweather. We’re who we are. I am who I am, but I also understood this whole thing with media, with fans. I’m a people person so that was more natural for me.

Ron Bennington: And at the same time, so many times, you’re fighting against guys that you could think to yourself– Haggler could win this fight…

Sugar Ray Leonard: Exactly.

Ron Bennington: ….Tommy Hearns could win this fight. I mean those were the pressures that would go along throughout your career. It was really great storytelling. If you went back to the Rocky film, you’ve got to think– Rocky could lose. And that’s what I think we had back in the 80s.

Hugh Jackman: Yea you really weren’t sure what was going to happen. Its true.

Ron Bennington: And you’re telling this with Real Steel now. When you guys are looking at the ring, is there anything in the ring when you’re watching these robots fighting?

Hugh Jackman: Yea. All of the robot boxing matches are done on humans in a room wearing green pajamas with sensors on them. So Ray is choreographing the fighters. That image is instantaneously turned into a robotic image. So the directors looking at that, Ray’s coaching the fighter, then he goes and looks at the monitors and goes ‘well it looks good on a human but I don’t believe a robot can throw that fast, so you gotta low it down’ he’s going back giving them different styles pacing. Then when we go back and shoot the match, I’ve seen the entire fight done. So I know what the fight is, and then I have two guys in the ring, on stilts to give me the proper eyeline– duking it out.

Ron Bennington: You’re reacting almost to memory?

Hugh Jackman: It’s a mixture of both. It used to be green screen…..and nothing…. you just make it up. Occasionally you’d get a stick with a tennis ball on the end of it to give you a vague eye line. Now it’s not like that. And half the time you have real robots. Like all that stuff in the corner. When I’m talking and the robots moving, that’s a real robot moving. So it was certainly much easier.

Ron Bennington: And its got to be great for you, Ray, because you can come in and share your expertise but also not have to worry about any of these guys getting hurt. It’s kind of the pretty part of boxing that you’re doing– you’re basically choreographing the perfect fight in your head without worrying about it going wrong.

Sugar Ray Leonard: Well yea but I also choreograph my own fights in my head. And so when I got the chance to this…

Hugh Jackman: What do you mean?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Well, when I fought Hearns, when I fought Duran and Haggler, I choreographed that fight in my head. I knew what I wanted to have happen in that ring, and I dictate that tempo. And every now and then the guy would ad-lib which would make me mad. Because he’d ruin the script.

Hugh Jackman: Really!?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Oh I didn’t tell you that? Oh yea. That’s why this was so wonderful, because this is what I’ve done all my life.

Ron Bennington: So he’s thinking….I mean our brains can’t even work on that thinking! If you’re in a fight you’re thinking moment by moment…but he’s thinking rounds ahead!

Hugh Jackman: Maybe I’m thinking I wanted to get the first punch in..

Sugar Ray Leonard: When I had you throw the uppercut…which you did perfectly, then the hook– because the right uppercut and left hook, it’s a beautiful punch, a beautiful combination. And you did that. And then when you threw it, you had expression of a fighter…of an ex fighter.

Ron Bennington: He pulls it off? Huh?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Yes he does.

Hugh Jackman: Can I ask you another question I always wanted to ask? I have a theory about champs. That deep down, on the biggest fights– they, want the fight. They generally are looking forward to it. The biggest test. Did you feel that?

Sugar Ray Leonard: Yes. Yes! That was when I was at my best. When I was the underdog in a sense, I was at my best. Check this out: in the dressing room– the three fights I lost– I knew in the dressing room I was going to lose. I knew that. I felt that. When I fought guys who everyone thought I was going to lose– get hurt– I won those fights, cause it was beating the odds– against logic.

Ron Bennington: But you know, even hearing that, it’s just the thinking and reacting on a whole different level. I’m glad to see you here Sugar Ray, just a legend in the ring. And of course, Hugh Jackman. Its SteelgetsReal.com check it out. Starts October 7 great to see you guys. And best of luck to you.

==========================

You can hear this and all our other interviews in their entirety on Sirius XM Satellite Radio on the Stars Too and Virus Channels.  Don’t have Sirius XM yet?  Click here  for a free trial.