CREED star Gabriel Rosado has “real-life Rocky story” fit for Hollywood – and eyes a world title to cap off his celebrated career.
The American in 2015 starred in Sylvester Stallone Rocky spin-off movie and featured as one of Michael B Jordan’s on-screen adversaries.
Sylvester Stallone pictured with Gabe Rosado
Sylvester Stallone on the set of Creed with Sylvester Stallone
Michael B Jordan and Gabe Rosado starring in Creed
The blockbuster movie received widespread acclaim but only years after its release does Rosado sit back and reflect the experience.
He told SunSport: “It was great, being from Philadelphia, Rocky is a Philadelphia story so to us it’s even more special.
“I grew up watching the movie so when I got to be a part of it, it was just kind of like surreal.
“But I think I appreciate it a little more now then I did at the time. At the time it was like, ‘This is cool’.
“But as time goes by it’s like, ‘Yo, I really was a part of history, this is big’. So I appreciate it.”
Rosado, 36, made his professional debut in 2006 and has been through it all in the ring.
From challenging for world titles, sharing the ring with modern-day legends and even being robbed on the cards, he has seen and done it.
It means if anyones career has been worthy of the big screen, it is probably Rosado’s.
He said: “For sure, it’s like the real-life Rocky story, but we’re still pushing.
“I still feel great, going back to 68’ and I really feel like we’re going to make a push in the division.”
Rosado, who returns to the ring at super-middleweight against Shane Mosley Jr, warned he is not done yet, with a world title still in his sights.
He added: “That’s the end goal. That’s what keeps me going and like I said, I’ve had a long career, 16-years going on 17.
“The goal for me is to become a world champion. I was close in the last fight, it was close, competitive, dropped down to 160 which was tough.
“I did it because in order to do great things you have to sacrifice.”
Rosado was beaten by former WBO light-middleweight champion Jaime Munguia, 25, in his last fight in November.
But just five months earlier he brutally knocked out 2016 Olympic silver medallist Bektemir Melikuziev, 25, in a shock upset.
Jaime Munguia beat Gabe Rosado
Gabriel Rosado knocked out Bektemir Melikuziev,
It was just another chapter in an already storied career, which includes defeat to Gennady Golovkin, 39, and controversial loss to US star Danny Jacobs, 35.
But Rosado refuses to take a back step and has been hailed for his love of big-yet risky fights.
He said: “I think it can be like that for a lot of fighters if they understood the aspect of, this is the entertainment business.
“It means if you put on a good fight, win, lose or draw, the fans are going to want to see you, the networks are going to want you back on.
“I think a lot of guys go in there with the mentality of – obviously it’s hit and not get hit – sometimes you’ve got to take some s***.”
He will return to the ring on Saturday live on DAZN against Mosley Jr, son of American legend Shane Sr.
Rosado revealed: “One thing is I know his father, I’m really good friends with his father.
“I was even able to do training camp with his father for the Margarito fight.
Gabe Rosado training with Freddie Roach
“So, he comes from a legendary dad, so he knows boxing. I’m not going to take him lightly.”
Mosley Jr, 31, has had years of challengers queuing up to try and beat the son of a legend – but Rosado is not one of them.
He said: “I ain’t fighting his dad, I’m fighting his son.
“For me, yeah they share the same name, but it’s not the same to me.
“His father is a Hall of Famer, one of the greats of the game who I respect.
“And it’s funny as when I was first offered the Mosley Jr fight, there was a part of me which was like, ‘Damn man, I don’t want to fight his son’.
“But at the end of the day it’s just business, it’s not personal. It is what it is. We’re both grown men and we’re going to get it on, on the night.”
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When Rosado steps foot in the ring for the 43rd time in his career, he does so knowing there could still be a fairytale ending waiting for him.
He said: “I know I still have a lot left. I’m ready.”
Gabe Rosado fights Shane Mosley Jr next
