It was fitting that Monday night’s Southpaw premiere in New York was crawling with real boxers, since stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams and Miguel Gomez, who plays Gyllenhaal’s character’s adversary, all immersed themselves in the fighting community to create an authentic fictional film. Gyllenhaal underwent rigorous physical training to get into fighting shape, as has been extensively detailed, but he also worked to get into the mindset of an athlete like his character, light heavyweight champ, Billy Hope. The actor said “I spent five months training and also going to so many fights [including two Mayweather bouts and two Pacquiao matches] and watching so much fight footage.” Rachel McAdams, who plays Billy’s wife, Maureen, also immersed herself in the boxing world.
“I talked to a few boxers’ wives. We went to a fight at Madison Square Garden … I spent some time in the ring myself and spent some time with Jake’s trainer.”
