AGEING BULL
De Niro keeps fit at 75 by working out in boxing ring from hit film
Picture: UNITED ARTISTS/KOBAL/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK HOLLYWOOD veteran Robert De Niro is still belting out hit films thanks to keep-fit sessions in the boxing ring he used in Raging Bull.
De Niro, who was 75 on Friday, has installed the ring over a basketball court at his mansion.
The star won an Oscar for the iconic 1980 movie about the life of troubled 1940s boxer Jake LaMotta.
A source close to the actor says: “He still has the same ring from the movie in his home and he tells me he still uses it from time to time.”
De Niro enjoys workouts at his multimillion home in the quiet town of Gardiner, in upstate New York.
He bought the 78-acre property – in the Hudson Valley, two hours north of Manhattan – in 1997 and splits his time between there and New York City. The source added: “He used to live De Niro has mansion in Gardiner, upstate New York mostly in Manhattan, in the Tribeca area, but since moving back out of town he’s spending more time keeping fit.
“He’s grateful to still be up to boxing and says it keeps his mind and body in great shape.”
De Niro prepared for Raging Bull by spending hundreds of hours in the ring De Niro in Raging Bull ring – which he now owns and training for months in one-on-one sessions with LaMotta himself.
The actor got himself superfit and even had three real fights – winning two. LaMotta described De Niro as of professional standard and one of the best 20 middleweights he had seen. But the actor said: “I was okay. Just okay. I sparred a lot, but always very carefully, and it was never full-out with anybody.
“I sparred with people with gear on, but we were careful.
“We weren’t looking to kill anyone. Then I
trained with Jake. He would say, ‘Hit me, don’t worry, don’t worry’. He was 55, but he was really tough. I didn’t realise until I got to his age that you could still take a punch.”
Raging Bull was shot in black and white for authenticity after De Niro pestered director pal Martin Scorcese to make the film. LaMotta died last year aged 95. Scorcese, 75, paid tribute, saying: “He was, as they say, larger than life. He lived a tough life, with a lot to overcome, but that’s exactly what he did. I’m glad to have had the chance to know him.”
De Niro said: “Rest in peace, Champ.”
He spends more time keeping fit and says it helps keep his mind and body in great shape DE NIRO SOURCE ON HOLLYWOOD STAR’S BOXING RING SESSIONS