Habits and Hustle

Episode 487: Antonio Sabato Jr.: From Teen Heartthrob to Boxing at 53 (And Why He Was Blacklisted from Hollywood)

September 23, 2025

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  • Antonio Sabato Jr. attributes his career blacklisting in Hollywood to his early and vocal support for Donald Trump and his decision to run for Congress, which led to all his agents dropping him. 
  • Sabato Jr. maintains a relentless, boundary-pushing philosophy, exemplified by his past achievements like swimming with 40 tiger sharks and learning gymnastics in his 30s, which he continues now by training for professional boxing at age 53. 
  • His career trajectory began with an appearance in a Janet Jackson music video at age 17, followed by success on 'General Hospital' and 'Melrose Place,' before pivoting to construction work in Florida after being blacklisted. 
  • Antonio Sabato Jr. maintains an extremely rigorous, four-hour daily workout routine consisting of two hours of cardio (including uphill cycling in the heat) and two hours of full-body weight training, seven days a week, which he considers essential for his mental well-being. 
  • Sabato Jr. is a recovering addict who overcame addiction to painkillers and sleeping pills over ten years ago, viewing his rock bottom moment as the catalyst for a spiritual rediscovery and a stronger connection to his family. 
  • He deliberately avoids the perceived phoniness of both the entertainment industry and politics, stating he is not involved with any political party, and he prefers training in hot, non-air-conditioned environments like his home gym or old Italian gyms. 
  • Antonio Sabato Jr. views both the entertainment industry and politics as inherently "fake" worlds where dishonesty is prevalent, leading him to disengage from political involvement. 
  • Despite his past support for Donald Trump, Antonio Sabato Jr. maintains he is not involved with any political party, though he personally respects Trump's work ethic and resilience. 
  • Antonio Sabato Jr. is actively promoting his upcoming celebrity boxing match on September 27th in Philadelphia and a new horror movie releasing this year. 

Segments

Sponsor Read and Guest Introduction
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(00:00:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Therasage Tri-Light panel is highlighted as a portable red light therapy tool for healing and anti-aging benefits.
  • Summary: The host introduced the sponsor, Therasage, emphasizing the portability and effectiveness of their Tri-Light panel for reducing inflammation and addressing pain. The panel also offers anti-aging benefits like reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Listeners can receive 15% off site-wide using the code BBOLD.
Guest Background and Crush Status
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(00:01:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. was a major childhood crush for the host and many women, leading to his appearance on ‘Habits and Hustle’.
  • Summary: The host expressed that Antonio Sabato Jr. was a huge childhood crush, a sentiment echoed by many women the publicist mentioned. Sabato Jr. acknowledged the humbling experience of returning to the limelight. The segment included the ritualistic ‘healthy shot’ from Magic Mind to promote focus.
Longevity and Mentality Discussion
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(00:03:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Consistency and maintaining a proactive, aggressive mentality are crucial for longevity and achieving goals past one’s 30s.
  • Summary: Sabato Jr. stated he feels mentally and physically better at 53 due to never stopping his consistency and lifestyle habits. He argued that the slowing down often associated with aging after 30 is optional, as life is precious and dreams should still be pursued aggressively. Showing commitment can inspire family and communities to adopt healthier habits.
Overcoming External Doubt
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(00:07:05)
  • Key Takeaway: One must focus on personal goals and ignore external opinions, as 90% of people do not want to see you succeed.
  • Summary: The host noted that seeking opinions often yields only others’ fears or bad experiences, which should not dictate personal decisions. Sabato Jr. emphasized the need to be selfish about self-care first, like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others. He asserted that most of the world, including sometimes family, opposes success due to their own insecurities.
Early Career and Hollywood Stardom
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(00:08:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr.’s initial fame stemmed from being the ‘Justin Bieber of the 90s’ after appearing in a pivotal Janet Jackson music video at age 17.
  • Summary: Sabato Jr. moved to LA at 12 to pursue acting, eventually landing a role in the Janet Jackson video ‘Love Will Never Do (Without You)’ at 17 while working as a messenger. He was the first soap opera actor to appear on Arsenio Hall, breaking industry norms that soap actors couldn’t cross over into film or primetime TV. He left ‘General Hospital’ after two years to pursue film, including a role in Steven Spielberg’s ‘Earth 2’.
The Hollywood Blacklisting Event
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(00:21:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Publicly supporting President Trump and running for Congress resulted in Sabato Jr. being immediately blacklisted by all his Hollywood representation.
  • Summary: Sabato Jr. was the first celebrity to publicly support Trump on TV, which led to him being completely blacklisted within 24 hours, losing all managers and agents. To support his family, he moved to Florida and worked in construction, specifically concrete pumping management, for years. He views this hardship as a necessary trial that strengthened his commitment to his wife and children.
Pre-Blacklist Career Success
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(00:25:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Before the 2016 blacklisting, Sabato Jr. maintained a busy career, producing and winning several reality shows, including ‘Cupcake Wars’ and ‘Stars in Danger’.
  • Summary: Between 2008 and 2016, Sabato Jr. was actively working, producing reality shows like ‘The Bachelor on Steroids’ in Hawaii, and winning competitions like ‘Cupcake Wars’ and ‘Stars in Danger’. He won the diving competition on ‘Stars in Danger’ after other celebrities quit, showcasing his competitive nature. He also engaged in extreme activities like swimming with 40 tiger sharks at the Mirage.
Formula One Racing Deep Dive
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(00:37:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Modern Formula One success heavily relies on simulation and aerodynamics, contrasting with the intense physical weight training emphasized during Michael Schumacher’s era.
  • Summary: Sabato Jr., who has extensive experience in racing simulators, noted that current F1 is like a video game driven by simulation and aerodynamics, unlike the past where drivers like Schumacher prioritized heavy weight training. He believes Max Verstappen excels due to his mastery of simulation, while Ferrari struggles because their engineering style clashes with Lewis Hamilton’s driving style and the difficulty of relocating key English engineers to Italy.
Ferrari F1 Complexity
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(00:48:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Driving a Ferrari F1 car requires a unique skill set due to its complexity and the political environment within the team.
  • Summary: Ferrari’s engineering talent often originates in England, but those engineers are reluctant to relocate to Italian bases like Maranello. The car demands a driver unlike any other, exemplified by Michael Schumacher’s ability to maximize its potential, unlike others who failed to navigate the team’s complex dynamics. Dealing with the Italian team members often involves navigating strong egos, requiring the driver to be equally committed and willing to ‘butt heads’ constructively.
Fitness Regimen Breakdown
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(00:53:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. commits to four hours of training daily, split between morning cardio/boxing and afternoon weights, seven days a week.
  • Summary: A regular day involves two hours of morning cardio, including one hour on a bike in a hot, humid garage wearing a sweatsuit with ankle weights, followed by an hour of boxing work (speed bag or heavy bag). The afternoon is dedicated to two hours of full-body weight training, focusing on being lean and muscular, aiming for a physique similar to Steve Reeves meets Bruce Lee. He fasts until noon, eats high-protein meals like fish and steak, and avoids carbs, fruit, and sugar, though he allows himself occasional Italian indulgences.
Quitting Coffee and Addiction History
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(00:57:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Sabato Jr. quit coffee to avoid any addiction, having previously recovered from years-long addiction to painkillers and sleeping pills.
  • Summary: He quit coffee because he never wants to be addicted to anything again, feeling much better since stopping, relying only on water and creatine in the morning. He describes himself as a recovering addict who went through severe physical and mental withdrawal when his supply of pills ran out, leading him to seek intensive treatment in Pasadena. He emphasizes that recovery is a lifelong process, and one should not fear mistakes but focus on how they recover and come back stronger.
Dating Famous Women
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(01:08:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Sabato Jr. dated Madonna at age 18, Pamela Anderson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, prioritizing privacy to know them beyond their celebrity status.
  • Summary: He dated Madonna for a summer when he was 18, learning about business discipline from her, noting her intense fitness regimen including running in Central Park and eating low-carb snacks like popcorn. He kept his relationships with Pamela Anderson and Jennifer Love Hewitt private to avoid the paparazzi hype and get to know them as individuals. He cherishes his time with Ashley Judd due to their long, intellectual conversations and notes that his first child’s mother is Virginia Matson.
Boxing Comeback and Celebrity Challenges
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(01:26:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. is pursuing celebrity boxing for pride and as a comeback story, having already asked major celebrities like Mark Wahlberg to fight him without success.
  • Summary: His upcoming fight is against Cody Williams, ’the king of hooks,’ and he has a history of being comfortable with celebrity matches, having nearly fought Roy Jones Jr. in the 90s. He believes Jake Paul avoids fighting him because he would lose against a fighter his own age who is actively training, contrasting this with Paul’s wins against much older opponents like Mike Tyson. He is motivated by the challenge and the impact he is having, noting that his boxing promotion has inspired others in his circle to start training.
Current Income Streams and Politics
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(01:33:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Beyond boxing, Sabato Jr. earns income as a licensed real estate agent in Florida, selling high-end condos, and he actively avoids all political involvement due to perceived dishonesty.
  • Summary: He passed the difficult real estate agent test and sells expensive condos in areas like downtown Tampa, often leveraging his fame to intrigue potential buyers. He views both the entertainment industry and politics as the fakest careers, where people lie constantly, which is why he refuses to align with any political party. He recently returned to school to earn his high school diploma.
Political Shift Perception
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(01:35:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. observes that public perception of Donald Trump has shifted, making it currently “cool” to support him.
  • Summary: The conversation revisits the Donald Trump situation, noting that a potential second win 10 years later has changed public sentiment. Antonio Sabato Jr. points out that it is now considered ‘cool’ to like Trump, while being on the Democratic side is seen as ‘uncool.’ He clarifies that he remains uninvolved with any political party due to their perceived fakery.
Fakeness of Politics/Entertainment
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(01:35:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The entertainment world and politics are identified as the two fakest careers, characterized by constant lying.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. asserts that entertainment and politics are the two fakest careers, where individuals lie at any cost, especially politicians like congressmen and governors. He contrasts this with the red carpet environment where people avoid telling the truth about their lives. He challenges those eager for political arguments to run for office to see the reality of how it operates.
Relationship with Trump
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(01:36:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. has met Donald Trump multiple times, considers him a great guy on a personal level, and has hosted events for him at the White House.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. confirms he has met Donald Trump many times and views him as a great guy personally, having hosted classy Christmas and military appreciation events at the White House. He strongly supports the military, first responders, and the Second Amendment but rejects involvement in the ’nasty’ political world. He refuses support requests from political candidates, focusing instead on his family and career.
Assessing Trump’s Job
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(01:37:57)
  • Key Takeaway: While acknowledging the difficulty of the presidential job, Antonio Sabato Jr. credits Donald Trump as the hardest-working individual in office, driven by ego and resilience.
  • Summary: When asked about Trump’s performance, Antonio Sabato Jr. states that anyone in political office has an incredibly hard job trying to please everyone. He credits Trump as the hardest-working person, noting his resilience after being shot twice, and suggests his motivation stems from ego and a desire for attention and power. He also believes Trump genuinely loves the country and wants to prevent its deterioration, citing California as an example.
Political Environment Critique
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(01:40:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Politicians are criticized for being wealthy, serving themselves rather than the people, and often surrounding themselves with ‘yes men.’
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. criticizes politicians for becoming rich when they should serve the people for free, calling them ‘snakes and leeches.’ He suggests Trump prefers ‘yes men’ who offer constant praise, though he also wants smart people who can surprise him. He is glad God protected him from running for Congress in his district, avoiding that environment.
Career Updates and Promotion
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(01:42:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. is promoting his September 27th boxing match in Philadelphia, a new horror movie, and his real estate services in Tampa.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. confirms his boxing match is on September 27th in Philadelphia, with tickets available at xrumble.com. He also announces that his horror movie will be released this year, and he is available as a real estate agent for those looking to buy condos or houses in Tampa.