Rob Lowe Recalls Sparring with Tom Cruise

Rob Lowe, during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, recounted an incident from 1983 where Tom Cruise knocked him out during a competitive sparring session while filming 'The Outsiders.' Despite using headgear and mouthpieces, the young actors, then 18 and 19, engaged in real boxing matches in their hotel hallway. Lowe, who described himself as having 'pipe cleaner arms' compared to a 'jacked' Cruise, managed to land a clean hit before being knocked out cold by Cruise. This incident highlighted the intense competitiveness between the two rising stars. 'The Outsiders,' directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was a significant project for both actors, featuring a cast of future Hollywood icons.