Rocky is one of the best boxing movie franchises of all time. The series' spin-off series, Creed, is just as amazing and provides a consistently entertaining watch. Throughout their careers, both Rocky Balboa and Adonis Creed have boxed against some frightening competitors. Yet, certain fighters definitely offered greater challenges than others.
Tommy Gunn is a charismatic character, but he's far from a fighter. His bout, and the film it features in, are both laughably bad. It feels almost unfair to compare him to the likes of Ivan Drago, but they both crossed gloves with Balboa. Ultimately, when looking at the Rocky and Creed movies retrospectively, it's clear who's the baddest of the bad and who's simply just bad at boxing.
Everything We Know About the MCU's Wonder Man
With the premiere set for January 27, here's everything we currently know about the MCU's Wonder Man.
8 Tommy Gunn Learns From, Then Betrays, an Aging Rocky in Rocky V
Rocky & Gunn Don't Even Settle Their Feud in the Ring
Tommy Gunn arrives at an uncertain time in Rocky's life. Rocky might have won his fight with Drago, but he has a plethora of medical complications to show for it. Balboa initially trains Gunn to be his replacement, only for the young boxer to betray him before the climax of Rocky V. Gunn is meant to mirror what Rocky could have been, but he just isn't believable or remotely likable.
Gunn and Balboa wouldn't even make it to the ring, settling their differences in the streets. Their final fight is extremely reflective of Gunn's overall character. Rocky only challenges him after he brazenly attacks one of Rocky's greatest friends. If Balboa and Gunn ever did meet in the ring, it would've ended a lot worse for the reckless rookie. Gunn's boxing and physical prowess simply aren't enough to keep up with the Italian Stallion, especially in his prime.
7 Mason 'The Line' Dixon Challenges An Elderly Rocky Balboa to Prove a Point
Dixon Barely Manages to Hold His Own Against an Aged Balboa
Mason 'The Line' Dixon is largely meant to represent the arrogance of the modern generation. After he loses to a prime version of Balboa during a simulation, Dixon challenges the aged boxer to an actual exhibition. Rather than decline, Rocky begins training to prove that he can still hold his own in the ring. Balboa's last bout isn't about winning, it's about proving he can go the distance, but his opponent makes it look a little easy.
The Best Anime Movies On Crunchyroll
Forget TV shows, Crunchyroll has an underappreciated library of anime movies. We are talking all-time great flicks and underrated gems.
Despite their supposed age difference, Balboa gives Dixon a run for his money several times throughout the fight. Dixon made multiple attempts to prematurely end the fight, but he just couldn't compete with Rocky's experience. Dixon would walk away with a greater sense of respect after their duel, but his boxing abilities are nothing to write home about. If he had actually gone up against Rocky in his prime, Balboa would have walked the floor with him.
6 Ricky Conlan Is Creed's First Real Opponent
Conlan Is Creed's Stepping Stone to the Boxing World
Ricky Conlan provides the first real stepping stone for Adonis Creed. Conlan even technically beats Creed due to a decision made by the judges. What is supposed to feel like a sour moment is just meant to reflect Rocky's first fight against Apollo. Nevertheless, Conlan simply wouldn't be able to handle it against either Balboa or Creed in their primes. Ricky beats Adonis in the first movie, but Creed only becomes a better boxer from there.
The Irish boxer certainly has skills, but they aren't enough to compete with some of the other titans on the Rocky roster. Conlan is by far the most similar to a traditional and realistic boxer. He isn't invulnerable, but he is still plenty powerful in his own right. That said, Creed would knock out Conlan in their only rematch, repairing the only major loss of his career.
5 Clubber Lang Briefly Takes Rocky's Title Away in Rocky III
Lang Capitalizes on the Boxer's Lack of Technique
Clubber Lang is an unstoppable force of nature who capitalizes on a now-arrogant Rocky in Rocky III. He forces the former champion to think outside the box and admit that he might not know everything about the sport of boxing. Lang's challenge pushes Rocky to find unconventional means of training and even finds Rocky turning to his former rival, Apollo Creed, for help. Each of Lang's punches are deadly in their own right, and they force the Italian Stallion to take a much more defensive strategy.
Lang serves as one of Rocky's more competent rivals, and is easily the third-toughest man Balboa ever boxed. His mean attitude is further supported by his brutal and unforgiving onslaught. If not for Apollo's training, Rocky might have fallen out of the sport of boxing forever. Thankfully, Rocky's partnership with his former enemy gave him the strength and the knowledge to carry through.
4 Damien Anderson Is Fueled By Pure Rage and Ambition in Creed III
Anderson Wants Everything Creed Has Won For Himself
Damien Anderson knew Adonis as a child, but suffered a much different upbringing. The boxer would go to jail for many years, making him envious of Creed's career. This envy fueled him into a brutal war machine that nearly ended Adonis' career at its peak. Diamond Dame's strength rivals, if not exceeds Lang's, and provides Adonis with the biggest and most personal challenge of his entire career.
All Character Ages, Height, And Birthdays In Zenless Zone Zero
Zenless Zone Zero is an urban RPG by Hoyoverse. Here are a few basic details fans may want to know about their favorite characters.
Creed would end up defeating Anderson via knockout, but there were many times it looked like he would fail. Anderson's envy and rage make him one of the most powerful competitors the franchise has ever seen, but that's not enough to win the title. Thankfully, Creed managed to use his superior technique and force of will to go the distance once again.
3 Viktor Drago Is Almost as Strong As His Father Was in Creed II
Drago Intends to Clear His Father's Legacy
Viktor Drago is every bit the fighter his father once was. He is extremely tall, and could be considered a machine of a man. His beef with Creed isn't inherently personal, but Viktor quickly makes it that way. Interestingly enough, Creed gets the upper-hand on Drago later in the fight, but if it weren't for the forced cinematic moment, Viktor might have won the day.
Ultimately, it is the legacy boxer's strength and weight that makes him so competent. He knows the proper technique to fully use the power behind his punches, and he makes it very apparent throughout his bouts. Fortunately, Rocky's superior training provided Adonis with the skills he needed to secure victory.
2 Apollo Creed Is Rocky's Rival Turned Mentor
Creed Helped Rocky Learn to Be a True Boxer
As far as the Rocky world is concerned, Apollo Creed is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He might have lost his life against Ivan Drago, but there's no one else who could've dethroned the champion. Apollo fought Rocky three times, but their record remains unclear until much later. It is revealed at the end of the third Creed film that Apollo won the final fight.
Dragon Ball Super: Every Main Character’s Ages And Heights
The cast of Dragon Ball Super continues to expand upon the series' mainstays. Here's what you need to know about the most important characters.
Theoretically, this gives Creed Sr. A more favorable record and should be a clear indicator of his skill. Was this decision made retroactively? Maybe – but it doesn't take away from the boxers' impressive ability. If he hadn't lost his life to Drago, Apollo very well could've taken the title back from Rocky.
1 Ivan Drago Nearly Ended Rocky's Life Like He Did Apollo's in Rocky IV
Drago Represented the Pinaccle of Boxing Prowess
When people think of the Rocky films, they usually picture Rocky's fight with Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. The bout is utterly brutal thanks to the russian boxer's incredible physique. Drago is an unfeeling boxing machine that Rocky only defeats through the sheer power of will. Drago would've decimated any other boxer, but Rocky just doesn't know when to quit.
Drago represents the best of the best the Rocky franchise has to represent. He might represent some unfavorable stereotypes, but no other boxer in the series holds a candle to his technique. If he were somehow transported into the time of Adonis Creed, it's very likely the young boxer's career would be cut short.
Rocky
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- November 20, 1976
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
- Director
- John G. Avildsen
- Writers
- Sylvester Stallone
Cast
-
Sylvester StalloneRobert 'Rocky' Balboa -
Talia ShireAdrianna 'Adrian' Pennino -
Burt YoungPaulie Pennino -
Carl WeathersApollo Creed
