Going from area to area during the photo shoot, the television star felt comfortable in his entire surroundings. Sure, the flash of a camera and the video being simultaneously shot were old hat, but so were the heavy bag and boxing ring.
For Mario Lopez, 40, mixing it up inside the ropes and hitting the bag are weekly occurrences.
“This happens to be my friend’s gym,” Lopez says of Gio’s Brooklyn Boxing Club near his home in Burbank, California. “I’m a gypsy; I go to a bunch of different gyms.” But the co-host of Extra TV finds himself wrapping his hands and pulling on the gloves every chance he gets.
Lopez – who does some type of physical activity seven days a week – will train like a boxer three-to-four times per week. As a matter of fact, he surmises it as making up about 75 percent of his entire workout routine.
“For me, boxing is very therapeutic,” he explains. “I grew up wrestling, so I like the one-on-one contact. It’s a little physical, a little violent and I get to take out my aggressions and it’s very relaxing to me.”
When he spars twice a week, Lopez will wear full headgear, as his appearance is a big part of his acting career. “It prevents you from getting cut, but I’ve gotten bruised up and actually had staples on the top of my head,” he comments.
The people that represent Lopez are not enthralled with his choice of fitness, but he cannot let go of one of his loves and passions.
“In my work, (boxing) is frowned upon, but I do it anyway.”
Judging by his chiseled physique, Mario Lopez is doing the right thing.
To read the full cover feature, “Chiseled Abs With Mario Lopez – Fighting His Way To a Lean and Ripped Physique,” be sure to pick up our November 2013 issue on newsstands now. Or subscribe today so you don’t miss an issue.
Photos by Per Bernal
