
You may remember that a week or so ago we discussed the
existence and plot of Rocky 6.
It's now called
Rocky Balboa, and revolves around a Rocky who is getting up there in years,
whose wife has died and who is just really, really bored. He starts
fighting again and finds himself pushed into a media-friendly bout with
the gloriously-monikered reigning heavyweight champ, Mason "The Line"
Dixon. Where previously there was only gleeful speculation about who
would play Dixon (Another
fake Russian? Ooooh, or
The Rock?), word has
been trickling out lately that an actual boxer might take the role.
According
to boxingtalk.com, fighter Antonio Tarver's representatives are in what
he calls "the final stages of negotiations" for him to play "The Line."
Tarver, who is 36, is the top-ranked light heavyweight boxer in the
world and, if nothing else, would certainly lend the fight scenes are
air of authenticity. On the downside, though, if he accidentally lands
a punch,
Stallone might die.