# In 2005, Russell Crowe played a boxer with a bitter rival. His co-star said the tension became real

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-2005-russell-crowe-played-a-boxer-with-a-bitter-rival-his-co-star-said-the-tension-became-real/
- Published: 2026-11-05T07:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T07:20:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-2005-russell-crowe-played-a-boxer-with-a-bitter-rival-his-co-star-said-the-tension-became-real/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment

## Key points

- Crowe and Bierko’s real-life tension fed their boxing rivalry.
- Bierko was left out of Crowe’s birthday party.
- Bierko said he remained focused on supporting the film.

## Summary

Russell Crowe and Craig Bierko’s strained relationship during the making of *Cinderella Man* helped create the sense of hostility between their rival boxers. Crowe, playing James J. Braddock, reportedly kept Bierko at a distance to make their on-screen rivalry feel authentic.

The 2005 film follows Braddock’s efforts to support his family during the Great Depression, when boxing offered a chance to escape poverty. Bierko, who played Max Baer, said he was excluded from Crowe’s 40th birthday party during filming in Toronto, but accepted the distance as part of Crowe’s approach and stayed focused on supporting the performance.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.