Ricky Nixon gets dropped to the ground and punched in street fight - but all is not as it seems

Video footage has captured Ricky Nixon hitting the deck following a street fight.

But those rejoicing at the controversial former footy agent's potential demise should hold fire, because it's all part of the 60-year-old's latest career move.

Nixon has begun stunt training for his debut on the small screen, in which he plays amputee gangster Thomas Moran in crime TV series Vendetta 19 Nixon. 

And he was put through his paces in Port Melbourne on Tuesday, with fellow cast member Terry Yeboah seen standing over Nixon as chaos ensued.

The scene was directed by Breanna Bulfone, who is the daughter of famous wrestler Mario Milano. 

'It was more full on than I thought,' Nixon told the Herald Sun.

'I'm looking forward to the challenge. We certainly attracted a lot of interest down at Port Melbourne beach.'

Moran, otherwise known as 'Tommy the Nut', was a member of the Crutchy Push, a gang who wreaked havoc on the people of Melbourne in the early 20th century. 

The gang comprised men with missing limbs and Moran is understood to have family links to the Moran brothers of the 1990s.

The new TV series will depict how the Crutchy Push came to blows with notorious rival gangster Squizzy Taylor in Pentridge Prison in 1908.

Tommy was sentenced to Pentridge a number of times for violent crimes, despite living most of his life with half of his left leg missing.

As a result, Nixon will have to learn how to fight while standing on one leg, using a crutch as part of his arsenal. He is also expected to all his own stunts and fight scenes.'

'I live a very different and colourful life,' Nixon said.

'When I was asked about this I spoke to a few friends and I thought it's a challenge.'

Filming for the new series will begin in June and the pilot will air this Spring on social media

Author Maloy has penned 15 true crime biographies, including Squizzy, The Forensics, The Vendetta, 7246 Minnie and The Man.

'The difficulty of these roles is that the people who are seen with a leg missing are not using the usual kind of crutches we use today,' Maloy said.

'They are instead using a single beam crutch, rather than two. It's an incredibly physically difficult role to play. Part of the audition process included asking Ricky to show his physical abilities, to be able to move in the very demanding ways he will need to in a fight scene, and to handle a crutch on one leg.

'I can honestly say that he is in incredible form, and was able to absolutely hold his own in a fight. He has never stopped training, and is in exceptional form for his age.'

Nixon was involved in a furious bust up with fellow footy personality Sam Newman last year, in which the former agent was allegedly left bloodied and pushed into a bush behind a cricket club.