Sylvester Stallone fitness' renaissance man: still punching at 58, a screen legend returns to his boxing and training roots with a reality television show and a new line of supplements

Muscle & Fitness, Sept, 2004 by Michael Berg

In the peculiar world of Hollywood, typecast represents the ultimate irony. Actors and actresses long for a role that will be embraced, a character that resonates with the public and transcends the realm of fiction and becomes a living, breathing part of the culture. Then, when such an epiphany is achieved, that same performer shuns the attention, longing to be seen outside that light. * Yet for the man who created one of the most revered movie personas in history--a celluloid hero who arguably spearheaded the massive fitness revolution of the '80s--such is not the case.

In fact, Sylvester Stallone has unabashedly returned to the mantle of his greatest cinematic creation five times, and now, on the precipice of a sixth Rocky film, he's revisiting the spheres where his star shines brightest: boxing and fitness.

With The Contender, a reality TV series that chronicles aspiring pugilists as they vie for a $1 million payday, and InStone Nutrition, a line of supplements bearing his name and likeness, Stallone, now 58, returns to his roots, ready to once again inspire millions to follow in his muscular footsteps. To him, Rocky is not an albatross but a remarkable icon that even he can appreciate.

THE ROCKY FACTOR

For the past 20-plus years, Stallone has continued to make films in the action genre, with hits such as First Blood, Demolition Man, Cliffhanger, Tango & Cash and his most recent box-office success, 2001's Driven.

While he also made some unfortunate forays into comedy--let's not forget Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot--Stallone never turned his back on the hard-nosed, softhearted brawler from Philly. After 1976's Rocky earned a Best Picture Oscar, a one-in-a-million-shot if there ever was one, he returned to the franchise in 1979, 1982, 1985 and 1990.

Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Stallone is quick to acknowledge the reach of Balboa. Fans worship at the altar of Rocky as an entity that pushed them into the gym and changed their lives, and that suits the man who brought him into existence just fine.

"It's not me, it's more of a ... Rocky philosophy that some of them have been affected by," he says, trying to put words to the phenomenon. "For instance, I went to the opening game of the Philadelphia Eagles' new stadium this past year. I came out for a moment just to wave to the crowd. When the entire stadium erupted, I realized they weren't erupting for Sylvester Stallone. Perish that thought. It's Rocky. [They see Rocky] as representative of their city. 'We don't give up. We put our head down and keep punching.' That's what I think I symbolize to people."

Coproducer of The Contender, Survivor's Mark Burnett certainly hopes to capture that Rocky mojo. He called Sly to bring him onboard for the show, which will make its debut on NBC in January. "I asked Burnett, 'Are you sure you don't want someone who's more of a boxing celebrity?'" Stallone recalls. "And he said, 'No, what we're trying to do is bring entertainment value, yes, but also tap into something that you'll be identified with for all your days."

Sly was intrigued by the prospect of creating a real-life Rocky scenario for one lucky fighter. He'll serve as a mentor who circulates among the athletes, while experts such as Sugar Ray Leonard work with the 16 contestants on the physical aspects of the sport. "This provides an interesting venue to take fiction and employ it in the world of reality," he says. "In other words, it gives a chance to people who have perhaps never had a break or have let opportunity slip through their fingers. This is about more than boxing; it's a kind of fantasy come true."

WALKING THE WALK

Concurrently, Stallone has immersed himself in a decidedly different project--launching a supplement company, InStone Nutrition. "InStone has been something I've thought about for 7-8 years," he says. "I've experimented so much with my body, training and diet-wise, coming up with different looks for movies. For instance, in Cliffhanger I had to develop more leg and shoulder power; in Rocky 3 I got down to 2.8% bodyfat; and of course Cop Land, where I lost all that definition and gained 40 pounds."

One key in turning his vision into reality was a hands-on approach. "I wanted to stand behind the product by saying, 'I am the guinea pig,'" he explains. "This isn't something that I'm just putting my name on. I think that would be quite a disappointment to people. I use the products, and I can safely say, everything is extraordinary. Each of these products is the best in the market in its particular niche."

Making appearances for The Contender and promoting InStone, Sly is holding steady at a chiseled 196 pounds, 4%-7% bodyfat. Through the years, he's learned an important lesson about diet and training: Keep it simple. "I follow a high-protein diet: Anything with a face, that's what I eat, with something green next to it," he says. "Over the years, my biggest flaw was overtraining. In the gym six days a week, doing more sit-ups at night ... my body was in a constant state of breakdown. Now I focus on a variety of exercises, working out three times a week for 90 minutes per session. I really feel good--much stronger than I've ever felt, actually. Something's working."