Next weekend marks the nationwide release of the comedy Lottery Ticket, a star-studded comedy featuring Bow Wow, Mike Epps, Charlie Murphy, Bill Belamy, T-Pain and Ice Cube. The movie follows the adventures of Bow Wow's character Kevin Carson, a young man from the projects trying to avoid greedy neighbors who are all trying to get their hands on his winning lottery ticket. After being physically threatened by the neighborhood bully, Carson enlists the help of a boxing trainer named Mr. Washington, played by Ice Cube, who looks strikingly similar to real life world-class boxing trainer Brother Naazim Richardson. In fact, from the cotton Muslim cap down to the grey beard, the character will have many boxing fans wondering if Ice Cube's latest role was inspired by the 2009 Trainer of the Year.
"I was in the movie theatre with Rock, Bear and Shark and they were sitting in the seats a row ahead of me and when they showed those previews, all three of them turned to me at the same time and just looked at me," laughed Richardson, who got a kick out of the character when he first saw the trailer. When asked whether or not he thought the character might have been loosely based on him, Richardson replied, "I don't know, man. We'll have to wait until it comes out and see." Barely able to control his laughter, Richardson continued, "The funny thing is Bear said if Ice Cube even thinks about picking up a towel during the movie, we gotta go to court."
Fans who watched any of the episodes of Mayweather vs. Mosley: 24/7 will recall Richardson's continuous use of white towels and swimming noodles to help sharpen Mosley's reflexes. Should Ice Cube's character be spotted with any towels or noodles, it's definitely food for thought. If the role was indeed based on Richardson, it shows just how far the Philadelphia native has come as a trainer and public figure. Richardson will soon begin training camp for Shane Mosley's upcoming September 18 return to the ring when he takes on Sergio Mora. Be sure to check back for much more from Richardson leading up to the fight.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]