In the first photos released from his upcoming movie role in ‘Hands of Stone’, Usher Raymond finally reveals what that baby fro he’s been rocking is all about.

Having shed at least 30 pounds, the superstar crooner grew out his mini-fro and even covered up his many tattoos (with the help of a bit of movie makeup).

[FLASHBACK: Training Day! Usher Preps for Role as Sugar Ray Leonard... (PHOTOS)]

Photos of Usher portraying boxer Sugar Ray Leonard taken on the Panama film set over the weekend prove that the months of hard work the 35-year-old father of two has put into transforming his body has clearly paid off! Raymond was forced to drop 34 pounds for the flick, shrinking from 180 pounds to Leonard’s usual fighting weight of 146 pounds.

[READ: Usher Shows Off Buff Body in 'Men's Health Magazine' (PHOTOS)]

Sugar Ray Leonard, now 57 and long retired from the ring, was the first boxer to win over $100 million during his career. He won titles in five weight classes, from welterweight to light heavy weight. Usher and Sugar Ray are also both 5′ 10” and with his slimmed down frame, Usher is almost the spitting image of the legendary boxer.

Check out more stills from the set of the film PLUS photos Usher shared while visiting the tiny Central American county below… Continue Reading…