The crowd erupts at the end of the fight and the assorted pundits and television commentators are beside themselves. The final bell rings and both boxers agree that there will never be a rematch between them. It is a match of skill over guts Creed is the more artful boxer but Rocky seems to have an unlimited capacity for taking punches and he will not fall. The fight goes the distance and both men receive injuries Rocky has a detached retina, and Apollo has a broken rib. He takes him more seriously but never seriously enough. Creed has never been knocked down before and does not take kindly to it from an upstart local. He does not take Rocky seriously from the first punch, and this over-confidence allows Rocky to knock him down in Round One. Creed dresses as Uncle Sam to enter the arena and is arrogant and cocky. He knows that everyone views him as a joke contender and he wants to prove that he is worthy of the fight.
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His only goal is to go the full distance with Creed.
Rocky placates him by suggesting that he advertises Paulie's meat packing business on his clothing before the fight. He is jealous of his talent and of the opportunity he is about to experience. He has just met Adrienne Pennino and their relationship blossoms, but Adrienne's brother Paulie doesn't like Rocky. Rocky has always frustrated him because he has never fully committed to training and Mick thinks he is wasting his talent and his potential. Goldmill was a fighter himself in his youth and he is a renowned trainer. His fight preparation consists of punching meat carcasses at the abattoir Several weeks later he accepts an offer of help from the owner of a boxing gym, Mighty Mick Goldmill. A pay-out of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars changes his mind, but he has no team behind him. When he learns that he is not the sparring partner but the opponent he is initially reluctant to fight. When promoter Miles Jergens meets with Rocky, the local fighter assumes he is looking for potential sparring partners for Creed before the fight. Rocky is a southpaw, a left-hander from the south side of Philadelphia. Creed turns the situation to his advantage by inviting local boxer Rocky Balboa to fight him for the heavyweight championship of the world. Second, third and fourth choice opponents are unavailable and every potential replacement is either fighting elsewhere or unable to make the bout on the scheduled date. There is excitement everyone anticipates a close, exciting bout.įive weeks before the fight is scheduled to take place, Creed and his people learn that his opponent has a hand injury and will not be able to fight.
Apollo Creed holds a press conference to announce that he is going to hold a title bout in Philadelphia during the Bicentennial celebrations for the United States. It is 1975 boxing is in its heyday, and the heavyweight champion of the world is a global superstar of epic proportions. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.