Mickey Rourke was born Phillip Rourke in Liberty City, an overtown ghetto in Miami City, Florida. As a teenager his family moved to Miami Beach and young Phil attended Miami Beach Senior High School. While at the school he briefly took an acting class with Jay Jenson. Jenson counted among his drama students Andy Garcia & Brett Ratner. However, at the time, Rourke’s interest lay in boxing. Fighting out of Miami Beach’s Fifth Street Gym and the Elizabeth Varrick Gym in Coconut Grove, Phil Rourke rolled up a 20-4 amateur boxing record with 17 knockouts. Rourke never lost his “love” for boxing. At the height of his movie career, he decided to become a professional boxer. He turned pro under the nickname, Marielito, and ran up a “glossy” undefeated record of 6-0-2. He never received the “world title shot” he desired. As a matter of fact, his move towards pro boxing almost ended his acting career.