Idris Elba Kickboxing Debut: Madonna Records Star Of ‘The Wire’ Holding His Own In First Fight [Video]

Idris Elba, the popular English actor, just made his kickboxing debut. Not only that, but the film and television star of the Thor films and The Wire won as recorded by Madonna ringside.

According to MMA Fighting, Idris Elba, who was 44-years-old at the time, made his debut in kickboxing at York Hall in London, England. Footage of the fight was made public by iconic musician and actress Madonna as she uploaded it on her official Instagram.

For those who do not know, Idris Elba has been training in both Muay Thai and kickboxing for a three-part documentary series for the Discovery Channel titled Idris Elba: Fighter, as previously reported by the Inquisitr. It will take viewers on a journey across the world with stops in the United Kingdom, Cuba, Japan, South Africa, and Thailand. Viewers will watch Elba develop into an experienced fighter while also diving into the roots of Muay Thai and kickboxing’s history. It is expected to air sometime in early 2017.

Apparently, Idris Elba is serious when it comes to his foray into kickboxing. According to Deadline, Elba will be taking some time off from the movie and television industry to devote himself to his kickboxing pursuits, as made known during a recent interview.

“It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to fight professionally. Entering the ring to further test myself as a human being is a challenge I have been looking to take on for quite some time.”

To be fair, though, Idris Elba is not exactly a greenhorn when it comes to kickboxing. Back in his 20s, Elba used to dabble a little bit in the combat sport. This time, however, is different as he is undergoing professional training under the tutelage of world-renowned kickboxing trainers and champions.

For a 44-year-old man just getting seriously into kickboxing, Idris Elba does not look half bad. The short snippet of the action recorded by Madonna shows him holding his own, as reported by CBS Sports. At one time, Elba is seen landing some pretty solid leg kicks to his opponents legs but also defending the ones thrown at him by his opponent. At one time, his opponent almost sweeps Elba but he was able to recover quickly. Also, Idris Elba was able to slip past his opponent’s guard, landing some direct shots to his opponent’s head and face.

And on a side note, if anyone is wondering why Madonna was ringside at Idris Elba’s debut fight in kickboxing, it is believed the two are a couple or at least seeing each other. According to the Sun, Elba and Madonna were seen kissing a number of times at London’s M Restaurant right after Elba’s debut kickboxing fight. Other sources claim Elba and Madonna were “inseparable” while inside the restaurant, the venue for their celebration party.

“There was nothing subtle about it, no attempt to hide. It was very blatant. They were at the party for about an hour, they would dance, go off to smooch, then mingle a bit more. They only had eyes for each other. That seemed very clear.”

Kickboxing fans are looking forward to seeing what he does next in the world of the combat sport. In the meantime, we can only wait until the next update is posted on social media or we might have to wait until Idris Elba: Fighter premieres. As for those who are looking forward to Elba’s next acting projects, do not fret as he is currently filming The Dark Tower, which is based on the popular Stephen King series. Elba will star as the lead character, Roland Deschain. He is also reprising his role as Heimdallr for Thor: Ragnarok.

[Featured Image by Theo Wargo/Getty Images]