Eminem returns to box office

Rapper Eminem is reported to be signed up to star in a boxing movie.

15:59 13 July 2004

Rapper Eminem is reported to be signed up to star in a boxing movie.

The controversial singer is said to be playing the role of 22-year-old Ukrainian boxer Dmitry Salita.

Media reports link the star of "8 Mile" with the man who trained former world champion Lennox Lewis, Emanuel Steward, so that he can get in shape for the new film.

Steward told Xfm.com: "I put him through his paces and I was amazed that he was as good as he was. Since then, he's trained regularly and I've put him in the ring with some top-notch sparring partners.

"He's improved enormously. He's aggressive, a real slugger. He moves a lot like Muhammad Ali."

Salita, now living in Brooklyn, keeps to a kosher diet, will not fight on the Sabbath, studies with a rabbi and is tipped be a future world champion after an undefeated run of 17 fights.

Rumours link "Pirates of the Caribbean" producer Jerry Bruckheimer with the project - provisionally titled "Golden Boy".