Usher to Play Sugar Ray Leonard in Boxing Movie

Rucuss staffMarch 23, 2012

Usher is the middle of an ugly custody battle with ex-wife Tameka Raymond.

But that hasn’t stopped the singer from moving forward with his career. Usher has signed on to play Sugar Ray Leonard in boxing film Hands of Stone. The BBC reports Usher confirmed the casting in an interview. He wanted people to know if they see him running around London, it’s part of his training for the role.

“I’m in preparation for a very incredible role,” Usher told the BBC. “If you see me in the corners boxing, I’m doing that while working on this album.”

Filming will begin later this year. Usher will star opposite Robert De Niro and Gael García Bernal in the movie, which tells the story of Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán.

Usher is also scheduled to release his seventh studio album later this year.