The Boxing Saga Continues: Creed III – A Showcase of Athletic Prowess and Dedication

The Rocky movie series and its spin – off, the Creed franchise, have long – standing themes centered around athletes, specifically boxers, surmounting formidable athletic challenges. These narratives revolve around boxers attaining the seemingly unattainable while simultaneously honing themselves to peak competitive form. Next year, yet another chapter in this tradition will unfold, as two Hollywood actors step into the ring to uphold this legacy.

On October 17, 2022, actor Michael B. Jordan took to his Instagram profile to unveil two teaser posters for the highly anticipated boxing epic, Creed III. These teasers spotlight Jordan, who portrays the fictional boxing superstar Adonis Creed, and his co – star Jonathan Majors, playing the new antagonist Damian “Dame” Anderson. The pair are depicted seated in the corner of a boxing ring, flaunting their impressively developed shoulders, arms, and well – defined upper – body musculature. This reveal was concurrent with the announcement of the film’s official release date on March 3, 2023.

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As reported by Variety, Creed III marks Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut. The 35 – year – old actor is reprising one of the most iconic roles of his career. In previous installments, numerous sequences have shown him engaging in rigorous cardio, upper – body, and overall high – level conditioning training. (Note: According to IMDB, Jordan has also earned acclaim for lead roles in films such as 2013’s Fruitvale Station and 2018’s Black Panther.)

Concurrently, Jonathan Majors joins the Creed franchise as a rising star in the cinematic landscape. The 33 – year – old actor first gained prominence with his role in 2019’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Subsequently, he has been featured in notable works like Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods in 2020 and the 2021 spaghetti western The Harder They Fall. Majors is also set to become the next lead antagonist, Kang the Conqueror, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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In a recent Men’s Health profile, Majors emphasized his unwavering commitment to fitness, regardless of his upcoming film roles.
“If I’m to bench press 250 pounds in a film, I must be capable of bench – pressing 275 pounds a few times,” Majors initially told Men’s Health, before amending his statement: “305 pounds a few times.”
Majors seemingly applied this same philosophy in his preparation for Creed III. Reportedly, he was dissatisfied with being provided “fake weights” during filming.
“I will do this all day — We are not putting fake weights on,” Majors stated, elucidating his reasoning to Men’s Health. “I’ve been training for the past three months to be here, and I’m not using Styrofoam. Put these [expletive] weights on so we can lift, so you can shoot, and so I can tell the story. Respectfully, anything less is like using fake tears or fake sweat.”

It will be some time before audiences witness Jordan and Majors presumably facing off in Creed III. However, for these two actors, who are clearly dedicated to maintaining a high level of fitness as professionals, the showdown in the ring come March 2023 is sure to be a spectacle.

Featured image: @michaelbjordan on Instagram