Crowe in the ring

Russell Crowe and wife Danielle arrive for the premiere of his new film "Cinderella Man". Picture / Reuters

Russell Crowe is fighting fit and in contention for a second Oscar. A slimmed-down Crowe has just launched his latest movie and critics say he is in the running for an Academy Award.

The New Zealand-born actor stars in Cinderella Man as Depression-era world champion boxer and folk hero Jim Braddock.

Crowe, who won the best actor Oscar for Gladiator in 2001, lost 19kg for the role.