B.L. There is no doubt in my mind that if you wanted to quit the acting business today you could become a boxer. You did such a convincing job in this movie.
V.R. Thank you.

B.L. You had previously prepared to play boxer Sonny Liston for another project before getting the role in Undisputed.
V.R. That’s right.

B.L. How did you go about getting in shape physically and what other boxers did you meet while doing your research?
V.R. I trained some with Sugar Ray Leonard. I trained with Jack Mosley, Shane Mosley’s father. I trained a bit with Daryl Foster, who trained Will Smith for Ali. And I trained with a guy named John David Jackson, who is former WBO champion. So, the training from jumping rope, road work, heavy bag, speed bag, shadow boxing and sparring, I had been doing for about two years on and off, so I was pretty much ready for this film when Sonny Liston got pushed back.

B.L. When you got into the ring with Wesley Snipes, you guys did everything.
V.R. No stunt doubles for us.

B.L. Were you ever worried about getting hurt? How did you guys go about it?
V.R. Well one, Wes is very professional. And two, I think that we just happened to have a good chemistry together even physically. It was like two dancers. I think that we complement each other. Three, Wes being a martial artist, he’s in control of shots you throw. So my thing was really throwing hits, because in boxing I am taught to punch your face. When it was choreographed, I am taught to just pop it and not follow all the way through. Or to roll with the punch, or to catch some punches with my shoulder and it may graze your face.

B.L. After going through all of this, have you ever considered going into the ring professionally?
V.R. No, because I think that there is no actor who could deal with a professional fighter. Professional fighters allow actors to feel good, sparring with them in the ring. You get some shots in but they are not throwing back shots with full power. Anybody can hit somebody but it’s really about can you take shots.

B.L. Where do you have to go mentally to prepare?
V.R. I think that it has to start at a young age. Every fighter that I know pretty much started young. But I also think that because it is involving your mind, your body and your soul and because you are putting your life on the line. I don’t know if it should even be called a sport. As my character says, they are Gladiators. We applaud them when someone gets knocked down.

B.L. The last few years for you have been so busy. You have a whole bunch of films coming out. Are you looking forward to working on Mission Impossible 3, directed by David Fincher?
V.R. Yes, it’s really just a matter of when the script is ready to go.

B.L. How did you like working with Kurt Russell for the upcoming Dark Blue?
V.R. It was very good. I’m dedicating that performance to the police department of New York, which is where I am from. I play an assistant Chief of Police in that. I’m getting a chance to play different type roles. I am doing a film now with Barry Levinson in which I play a gay detective and I have a recurring role on the TV series The District, where I am playing the Attorney General of the United States with Craig T. Nelson. I won’t allow anyone to slot me into one thing.

B.L. Plus it was fun to hear your voice in the animated feature Lilo & Stitch.
V.R. That was fun to do. We have just confirmed that Disney will be making a sequel for it, so I am quite excited about that.