Mark Wahlberg has continued to train for the movie The Fighter, and he is in fighting shape to be joined by Christian Bale and director David O. Russell.  Production plans to start in July. 

Variety reports that the story is based on Boston fighter “Irish” Mickey Ward and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dicky Eklund. Eklund once decked Sugar Ray Leonard and went the distance against the boxing legend before forfeiting his career to drugs and crime. He redeemed himself by training Ward through his Rocky-like run to the title.

Wahlberg is set to play Ward, a fighter who was losing bouts and was ready to hang up the gloves when his brother came back into his life. Bale is set to play Eklund, whose drugs and robbery spree drew him a 10- to 15-year sentence in state prison. There, he kicked drugs, became a model prisoner and emerged as a changed man who helped his brother reach the glory that eluded him.

Other actors have considered playing roles in this movie, but it looks like Wahlberg and Bale have nailed it.