By Marjorie Hernandez West Coast News Editor for Dailymail.Com
6:12 PM June 30, 2024, updated 6:14 PM June 30, 2024
- The former model said Republicans and Democrats ‘only stand for themselves’
- Sabato said he wants to ‘bring entertainment back’ to the boxing ring
- The actor said he is sober and has moved on from politics
A once-popular TV star and model has revealed how he was kicked out of Hollywood for supporting Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign.
Actor and model Antonio Sabato Jr. plots a comeback, but this time in the boxing ring.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, the former Melrose Place and General Hospital heartthrob revealed that he has signed a contract with the owners of Celebrity Boxing and hopes to step into the ring against professionals like Floyd Mayweather or Conor McGregor.
The now 52-year-old said he has “grown a lot” since he said he was ostracized by the “Hollywood elite” after supporting Trump’s first campaign.
Sabato came under heavy criticism after a controversial speech he gave at the 2016 Republican National Convention in which he said Barack Obama was not a Christian but a Muslim “on the bad side.”
The actor said he has been ostracized by “the Hollywood elite” since he supported Donald Trump at the 2016 RNC, which was held at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Sabato said he was dropped by his agents immediately after his RNC appearance and the projects he had lined up disappeared.
He said he’s been struggling for years, but things are “getting better.”
“If you disagree with the power of Hollywood on important key issues in our country, it can be very dangerous,” the actor said. “I think that’s going to be the case for the rest of my life. But whether you disagree with me or not, you have to show some respect for someone who stands up to the bully.
“They tried to smear me and make sure I would never work in this city again, but I will continue to work and make my way.”
Sabato, who is best known for his roles on television shows such as Melrose Place and General Hospital, has also appeared in dozens of films and other shows, including as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars in 2014.
He even ventured into politics, running against incumbent Democrat Senator Julia Brownley in 2018 for a seat in California’s 26th Congressional District.
However, his campaign took a major hit when his then-estranged wife, Marie, filed for divorce, alleging the actor was abusing prescription benzodiazepines.
Sabato finished second in the 2018 primaries.
He said he went from TV roles in Hollywood to driving construction equipment throughout Florida, and about seven years ago he decided to move there with his family.
“Nobody would hire me in the Hollywood world, but I had to make enough money to survive and provide for my family,” he said. “I rolled up my sleeves, put my ego aside and did what I had to do.
Antonio Sabato Jr, with Heather Locklear on Melrose Place Sabato was a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, but now the actor says he has distanced himself from the former president and both parties.
“I would go to construction sites from midnight to six in the morning and do the work, like pouring concrete from the truck. I did everything.”
He said he has also disclosed his struggles with drugs and has been drug-free for the past eight years.
He credits his wife Katia, their children and his strong faith for keeping him sober.
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“Love is great and God is good,” said Sabato, who recently celebrated his seventh anniversary with his wife. ‘I am a recovering addict and went through life and death. Now I’m in the best place in my life.
“My life has been a really challenging one and I want to share that journey with people to give them some hope. Maybe to lift them up and say, ‘Wow, Antonio went through all that, but look at him now!’ That’s what life is all about: having those moments that can change your perspective and help you get your life back on track.”
Although the former model said he has left politics behind, he still has very sharp criticism of both Democrats and Republicans.
“I was a Democrat at one point, then I became a Republican,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know both parties very well — the good and the bad — and now I know I don’t want to have anything to do with either party, since I’m an independent now.
Celebrity Boxing has gained popularity over the years. Antonio Sabato Jr. said he hopes to show his skills on the rink against a bona fide contender Sabato took to social media and asked his fans who they would like to see him fight in the boxing ring
“I think Biden is doing a terrible job and the country is in a terrible state. Both parties are the problem because they are not helping the people. They are really only looking out for themselves and could care less about the well-being of the people.”
While he no longer supports Trump and the Republican Party, Sabato said the former president and now convicted felon was wrongly prosecuted.
“With all the real crimes that politicians have committed, they want to focus on something that has nothing to do with the Trump presidency. The country is not doing well, but we still have a chance to change that.”
Celebrity Boxing founder and CEO Damon Feldman said he has followed Antonio’s dedication to boxing and training over the years and thought he would be the perfect fit to launch a professional fighting league called ‘XRumble.’
Feldman said the competition will be fully sanctioned, with fighters able to use “modified” versions of boxing, mixed martial arts and bare knuckles.
“I’ve always remembered Antonio over the years,” Feldman told DailyMail.com. “The new platform will start with Antonio, who will be part of this big card, and we’ll have another crossover match with actor David Kurzhal versus Sugar Shane Mosley. We’re looking for another actor, athlete, former world boxing champion who wants to get a chance to fight Antonio.”
Damon Feldman, founder and CEO of Celebrity Boxing, said Sabato’s upcoming fight will help promote a new professional fighting league called ‘XRumble’
The actor said he would rather focus on his family and his next goal: getting into the ring with a great boxer. Sabato said that once Celebrity Boxing finds him an opponent, he will travel back to California where he plans to undergo rigorous training.
“I want to do this because I want to be back in the spotlight, but I also know that I’m there physically,” Sabato said.
“Whether people like me or not, or agree with my policies or not, they will know that I will be ready. They’ll know I wasn’t afraid of anything.’
He said boxing was the first sport he fell in love with because his father, Italian actor Antonio Sr., would take him to the gym in Rome when he went to train.
“He brought me in and threw me the ring when I was about eight years old, so I’ve been boxing my whole life,” Sabato said with a laugh. “I’d love to give it a shot and show the world what I can do.
“I think there’s a finesse in boxing that’s been lost. People want excitement and entertainment, and I think I can bring some of that back to the sport.”
