Actor Wins 1st Pro Bout With Flair

Actor Mickey Rourke scored a unanimous decision over Steve Powell in his professional boxing debut Thursday night that combined pugilism, professional wrestling and a touch of Hollywood.

Rourke put on a show in the four-round bout against the South Florida mechanic at a packed War Memorial Auditorium.

The 34-year-old actor jabbed and used the uppercut, but he also danced, clowned and taunted the crowd throughout the fight.

The two boxers were constantly in clinches, two of which sent Powell through the ropes. But Rourke managed to land several solid rights, especially in the final two rounds.

Two judges scored it 38-37 for Rourke and a third gave him a 39-37 edge.

Rourke was fighting as a light heavyweight in the match sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission. His bout came late in the evening as part of an eight-fight program.

The star of such movies as “Year Of The Dragon,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “9 1/2 Weeks” and “Barfly” had 26 amateur fights in the 1970s.

The actor, who attended Miami Beach High, decided to try his hand at professional boxing after a trip to Miami Beach a few months ago. He sparred with friend Roberto Duran and later approached former boxer and matchmaker Tommy Torino about trying his hand on the professional circuit.

Powell, a 33-year-old mechanic from nearby Oakland Park, is a Boston native. He is now 5-4.

Rourke’s debut was attended by an estimated 2,200, including a crush of media, many of them from Europe where Rourke is extremely popular.