Как пишется рокки бальбоа на английском - Правописание и грамматика

Robert «Rocky» Balboa (also known by his ring name The Italian Stallion) is a fictional title character and the protagonist of the Rocky film series. The character was created by Sylvester Stallone, who has also portrayed him in all eight films in the franchise. He is depicted as a working class or poor Italian-American from the slums of Philadelphia who started out as a club fighter and «enforcer» for a local Philly Mafia loan shark. He is portrayed as overcoming the obstacles that had occurred in his life and in his career as a professional boxer.

Rocky Balboa The Italian Stallion
Rocky character
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in Rocky III (1982)
First appearance	Rocky (1976)
Last appearance	Creed II (2018)
Created by	Sylvester Stallone
Based on	Chuck Wepner/Rocky Marciano
Portrayed by	Sylvester Stallone
In-universe information
Full name	Robert Balboa
Alias	Rocky
Nicknames	The Italian Stallion The Pride of Philadelphia Philadelphia’s Favorite Son The Iron Horse Stallion Unc Rocco Rock Meatball
Title	World Heavyweight Champion
Occupation	Professional boxer Restaurant owner Boxing trainer Loan Shark Collector
Spouse	Adrian Pennino (deceased)
Children	Robert Balboa Jr. (son)
Relatives	Paulie Pennino (brother-in-law; deceased) Logan Balboa (grandson) Amara Creed (goddaughter) Donnie Creed (surrogate nephew) Amara Creed (surrogate great-niece)
Religion	Catholicism
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Italian

While the story of his first film is loosely inspired by Chuck Wepner, a boxer who fought Muhammad Ali and lost on a TKO in the 15th round, the inspiration for the name, iconography and fighting style came from boxing legend Rocco Francis «Rocky Marciano» Marchegiano, though his surname coincidentally also resembles that of Middleweight Boxing Champion Thomas Rocco «Rocky Graziano» Barbella.

The character is widely considered to be Stallone’s most iconic role and is often considered the role that started his film career. He received critical acclaim for his performance in the first movie, earning Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations. When Stallone reprised his role once again in 2015 for Creed, his performance received universal acclaim and he received his first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, along with his third^[1] Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and several other accolades.

Character biographyEdit

Robert «Rocky» Balboa was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 1945. He was the only child in a Roman Catholic Italian-American or Italian immigrant family.^[a] When Rocky is spoken to by his Italian priest, Father Carmine, it is apparent that Rocky understands Italian very well or fluently, including in a scene in which he translates Italian into English for Tommy Gunn. However, it is undetermined how well he actually speaks the language, as his responses are always in English.

During the scene in which Rocky takes Adrianna «Adrian» Pennino skating on Thanksgiving, he tells her, «Yeah – My old man, who was never the sharpest, told me I weren’t born with much brain, so I better use my body.» This encouraged him to take up boxing. He trained very hard so he could grow up to be like his idol Rocky Marciano. Unable to live on the low pay of club fights, and being unable to find work anywhere else, Rocky got a job as a collector for Tony Gazzo, the local loan shark, just to make ends meet. By the end of 1975, Rocky had fought in 64 fights, winning 44 (38 KO’S) and losing 20. Rocky was proud that he never had his nose broken in any of his amateur fighting career. His nickname is «The Italian Stallion», spawning from his Italian-American heritage.

Rocky (1976)Edit

The first film begins on November 25, 1975, in the slums of the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Rocky Balboa is fighting Spider Rico in a local boxing ring called the Cambria Fight Club (nicknamed «The Bucket of Blood») inside a chapel. In the second round, Rico hits Balboa with a headbutt, leaving a gash on his forehead. Rocky then delivers a vicious barrage of punches, knocking Rico out. The next day, Rocky stops by the J&M Tropical Fish pet shop, where he meets Adrian Pennino. Adrian is very shy and scared of Rocky’s tough appearance, even though Rocky is very kind to her and shows her respect. Afterward, Rocky goes to collect a loan for his loan shark boss, Tony Gazzo. Even though the client, Bob, does not have all the money, Rocky does not break his thumbs, despite Gazzo ordering him to do so. Later, Rocky stops by the local boxing gym and finds out that his locker has been replaced by another local contender. Unknown to him, the gym’s owner and grizzled former boxer, Mickey Goldmill, does not dislike him, but considers Rocky’s potential to be better than his effort. When Rocky leaves for home that night, he sees a young girl named Marie hanging around a bad crowd and walks her home. On the way, Rocky lectures her about staying away from the wrong people. However, once they get to her house, she tells Rocky «Screw you, creep’o». Rocky walks home, frustrated how nothing is going right in his life.

Rocky gets his dream come true when the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, Apollo Creed, decides that he wants to give an unknown fighter a chance to fight for the title after his intended challenger, Mac Lee Green, broke his hand while training. Creed was told that no other contender was available for a fight on New Years Day. Going against his trainer’s warnings of Balboa being a southpaw (left-handed boxer), Creed chooses Rocky because he likes Balboa’s nickname, ‘The Italian Stallion’.

After getting picked by Creed, Rocky reunites with his estranged trainer, who convinces Rocky that he can help prepare him for the match. Mickey reveals that his career never got anywhere because he did not have a manager and he does not want the same thing to happen to Rocky. At the same time, Rocky begins dating Adrian. Rocky helps Adrian to become more self-confident and stand up for herself. Rocky confides in Adrian before the fight that, although he figures that he may not win, he wants to at least «go the distance.»

On January 1, 1976, at the Philadelphia Spectrum, Rocky has his match with Creed, who did not take the fight seriously during training. In the first round, Rocky knocks Creed down, the first time he had ever been knocked down in his career and Creed responds by breaking Rocky’s nose, the first time in his career. Creed soon realizes that, although Rocky does not have his level of skills, he has crippling, sledgehammer-like power and is determined to keep fighting. The match becomes a long and grueling battle for both competitors. Up into the 14th round, Rocky is nearly knocked out but manages to get back up and delivers some hard body shots, breaking Creed’s ribs just before the bell. The 15th round comes to naught and Rocky manages to pummel Creed until the bell rings once more. It is the first time an opponent had lasted the full 15 rounds against him and as a result, it ends up with a split decision, Creed wins the fight and holds on to his title. Both combatants, battered beyond belief, agree that there would be no rematch. Rocky clearly doesn’t mind about the outcome, as he only wanted to go the distance with Creed. After the match, Adrian climbs into the ring and embraces Rocky saying, «I love you!»

Rocky II (1979)Edit

After the match, Creed changes his mind and demands a rematch under the stress of being humiliated by the press for failing to beat Rocky convincingly, as well as his own knowledge that he didn’t give his best in the match. Creed demands a rematch with Rocky, stating that he would fight him ‘anywhere, anyplace, anytime’ to prove to the world that Rocky’s feat was merely a fluke. Rocky initially declines and retires from boxing, having surgery for retinal detachment, a condition that could lead to permanent blindness. He marries Adrian, who convinces him to live outside boxing. However, Rocky, a grade-school drop-out, soon realizes that he has no white-collar skills beyond the eighth grade and is, in fact, barely literate. [He does, however, improve his reading skills by reading books aloud to Adrian during her coma.] The money he made in his match with Creed is easily and quickly frittered away, so Adrian re-claims her part-time job at the J&M Tropical Fish pet shop. At first, Rocky seems to be unaffected by Creed’s smear campaign, but his inexperience with money causes him to run into financial troubles. Rocky struggles to find employment with decent pay, when he is fired from a commercial studio, turned down for an office job and even laid off at the Shamrock meat packing facility. Despite Adrian’s objections, and after Creed insults Rocky on national television and the newspaper, he agrees to the rematch. Without Adrian’s support, however, Rocky becomes greatly discouraged and cannot concentrate on his training whatsoever, leaving Mick frustrated and worried. The now-pregnant Adrian goes into preterm labor on the job due to stress and slips into a coma after giving birth to her first child, Robert Jr. When Adrian is out of the coma, she promises her full support to Rocky. Together, Mickey and Rocky train hard, focusing on Rocky’s speed and improving his right-handed punching (Rocky being a southpaw). At the same time, Creed is also focused on his training, taking this match much more seriously than the previous time. The rematch is set for Thanksgiving. The match goes on for the full 15 rounds again, with both Rocky and Creed falling to the canvas after Rocky lands a succession of left hands. As referee Lou Fillipo exercises his 10-count to the limit, both Creed and Rocky struggle to get back up and Creed falls back down in exhaustion. Rocky is able to get back up from sheer determination, beating the 10-count and winning the rematch by knockout, thus becoming heavyweight champion of the world.

Rocky III (1982)Edit

Over the next three years, Rocky has successfully defended his title in ten consecutive matches against various contenders, amassing a wealthy fortune and worldwide fame in the process. In addition, Rocky also has an exhibition match against the World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, «Thunderlips» (Hulk Hogan), with the match ending in a draw. However, in 1981, Rocky is challenged by a young power-hungry fighter named James «Clubber» Lang (Mr. T), who has risen to the top of the rankings. Rocky begins having some issues with his trainer, Mickey Goldmill, due to his revelation of having faced «hand-picked» challengers that were «good fighters, but not ‘killers'» which Lang seemingly is. Mickey insists that he would step down as Rocky’s manager if he chooses to fight Lang, but Rocky convinces him to train him for one last match. However, just like Creed in the first film, Rocky does not put his heart into the training properly, and this reinforces Mickey’s belief that Rocky has become too comfortable (or «civilized») as champion. Before the match, pandemonium erupts backstage, with Lang shoving Mickey out of the way during a trash-talk exchange of words with Rocky, causing Mickey to suffer from cardiac arrest. Distraught over Lang’s cold indifference, Rocky requests to call the match off, but Mickey urges him on. A distracted Rocky attempts to knock Lang out early with a barrage of huge blows, but his lack of proper conditioning quickly wears him out. Lang, who has trained with ruthless vigor, recovers and easily knocks out Rocky in the second round, causing Rocky to lose his title. After the match, Rocky visits Mickey, who then dies of a heart attack, devastating Rocky. After the funeral, a depressed Rocky wanders the streets of Philadelphia until seeing the statue at the steps. In a fit of rage, Rocky throws his motorcycle helmet at the statue and takes off until he visits Mickey’s now-abandoned gym. In the gym, Rocky meets Apollo Creed, who explains to Rocky, that when they fought, he won because he was competitive. He has the ‘fire’ Creed no longer has and the former champion convinces Rocky that he needs to get his fire («the eye of the tiger») back. Along with his old trainer, Tony «Duke» Evers, Creed offers to train Rocky for a rematch against Lang, taking Rocky to Los Angeles. While training on the beach, Adrian and Rocky furiously debate, while Creed trains Rocky to help get him «back to basics.» After a while, Rocky manages to put his doubts behind him and retain his spirit. Fighting with a style very reminiscent of Creed’s own boxing technique mixed with his own style, Rocky wins the rematch against Lang by K.O., dodging and absorbing Lang’s best blows and still standing, regaining his world heavyweight title. After the match, Rocky and Creed meet again in Mickey’s Gym, with Creed taking his «payment» for his training services: one last rematch, just the two of them, no spectators.

Rocky IV (1985)Edit

Apollo Creed agrees to have an exhibition match against Soviet World Amateur Champion and Olympic gold medalist-turned-professional fighter Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Las Vegas, with Rocky Balboa and Tony «Duke» Evers in his corner. Creed, past his prime but in good shape, again not taking his opponent seriously, takes a serious beating by Drago in the first round, despite Rocky’s orders to stop the fight. In the second round, Creed continues to be brutally beaten by Drago, falling limp in the ring and dying. Feeling responsible for Creed’s death and riddled with guilt by Drago’s cold indifference, Rocky decides to take on Drago himself, but to do so, he has to surrender his championship.
Rocky travels to the cold mountains of Russia and undergoes rigorous training, even after being berated by Adrian, who said that Rocky couldn’t win against Drago. His match against Drago takes place on Christmas Day 1985 in Moscow. With Evers assuming the role as his new trainer, Rocky trains hard using old-school methods within the mountainous terrain of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, while Drago trains with state-of-the-art equipment and steroid enhancement.

During the match, Drago gains the upper hand in the early moments, but in the second round, Rocky strikes back against Drago with a haymaker to the eye, cutting him. The match goes on in a bloody back-and-forth battle, with the Soviet crowd, who originally roots for Drago, beginning to cheer for Rocky, while Drago’s handler becomes increasingly upset over his inability to finish Rocky. In the end, Rocky’s superior stamina and determination to win perseveres and defeats the heavily favored Russian in the fifteenth round. After the match, Rocky gives a passionate ‘thank you’ speech to the crowd while receiving a standing ovation both from the crowd and the politicians in attendance.

Rocky V (1990)Edit

The year is 1986, Shortly after the bout with Ivan Drago, Rocky realizes while he is showering that he may have sustained some type of injury during the fight. His hands tremble relentlessly, and he tells Adrian that he is tired and wants to go home, but accidentally addresses her as Mickey. Upon returning to the United States (in a Soviet airplane), his press conference is interrupted by promoter George Washington Duke and Union Cane (Michael Williams). They challenge him to a title fight called «Lettin’ it Go in Tokyo.» Rocky hints about retirement and leaves without accepting the challenge. Once returning home, Rocky goes to say goodnight to his son, Robert Jr., but when Rocky goes downstairs, he overhears Adrian and Paulie arguing, which turns out to be a dramatic life-changing situation. Paulie unknowingly had Rocky sign a power of attorney over to Rocky’s investment accountant, who had embezzled and squandered all of his money on real estate deals gone sour. In addition, the accountant had failed to pay Rocky’s taxes over the past six years and his mansion had been mortgaged by $400,000. Unwilling to go bankrupt, Rocky decides to participate in a few more fights, including the one against Union Cane, but Adrian demands that Rocky should see a doctor first. Rocky’s doctor, Presley Jensen, reveals that Rocky is suffering from a condition called Cavum septi pellucidi, which is brain damage caused by extremely heavy blows to the head. The effects are seemingly permanent and irreversible. With such a condition, it would make it impossible for Rocky to continue boxing in any state. At Adrian’s urging, as well as with the doctor’s support, Rocky gravely acknowledges that it is time to retire and he reluctantly does so.

His only remaining asset is the now-closed Mickey’s Gym, which had been willed by Mickey to Robert, making it virtually untouchable by the IRS. After selling their mansion and auctioning some of their belongings, Rocky and the family now return to the old neighborhood, moving back into Adrian and Paulie’s old house in South Philadelphia. Rocky reopens Mickey’s Gym as a means of income, while Adrian returns to work at the J&M Tropical Fish pet shop, where she was employed during the time she first met Rocky. Rocky asks Adrian, «Did we ever leave this place?». One day, Rocky meets a young ruffian boxer from Oklahoma named Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) and begins training him. Tommy slowly becomes an excellent fighter, but suffers from constantly being put in Rocky’s shadow; he is nicknamed «Rocky’s Robot» by the media. As Rocky is training Tommy, he becomes so distracted that he ends up neglecting Robert. On Christmas Eve, Tommy visits the Balboa residence and tells Rocky he wants to team up with Duke, but Rocky explains that dealing with Duke would be a dirty business. Tommy regrets being Rocky’s protégé, drives off in a huff, and leaves him for good. Adrian attempts to comfort Rocky, but Rocky’s frustration boils over. After they reconcile, Rocky meets Robert and they finally pick up the pieces.

Rocky is still anxious as he watches the match with Tommy facing off against Union Cane on television with Paulie. As the match starts out small, Rocky begins to emote through the first couple of seconds of the fight as Cane becomes effective in hurting Tommy. As Tommy begins to make his adjustments as Rocky taught him, Rocky then mirrors his punches on a punching bag, which leaves his family concerned. Tommy wins the world heavyweight title from Union Cane by knockout. Visibly proud of Tommy, Rocky is surprised that Tommy credited his success to Duke instead of Rocky. However, Tommy is booed and ridiculed in the press conference, since he had never gone up against a «real contender» he is not regarded as a real champion or heir to the belt. This motivates Tommy, with prodding from Duke, to publicly challenge Rocky to a fight.

While Rocky is at a local bar, Tommy steps in and insults Rocky. Paulie insults Tommy back and is sucker-punched by Tommy. Rocky confronts Tommy and challenges him by saying «you knocked him down, why don’t you try knocking me down?». When Duke intervenes and says that Tommy «only fights in the ring», Rocky explains to him that his «ring’s outside». As both fighters head to the alley, Duke tries to persuade Tommy to not fight a street fighter, but Tommy squares upon him, saying that he does not own him and wants his respect.

Rocky then quickly starts to beat Tommy without giving him a chance, knocking him down. Rocky tells Tommy that, even though he admires him, he actually ruined their relationship. With Rocky’s back turned, Tommy sucker punches him and starts attacking some of the bystanders on the side. Tommy gains the upper hand and tackles Rocky through a steel door into the street. The two engage in a street fight, which quickly garners the attention of the media, while also catching Robert and Adrian’s attention as well. As the neighborhood gathers round to witness the fight, Tommy’s punches begin to slow Rocky in his tracks due to his condition and he is knocked down, disoriented with Paulie at his side. Tommy is then restrained from finishing Rocky off.

Glimpses of Ivan Drago, his loss to Clubber Lang during his first fight with him and Mickey’s burial start to cloud his mind until he hears Mickey’s voice, telling him that he is the champion and to get up. As Tommy walks away, convinced that he finally got what he wanted, Rocky rises up and calls him out for one more round and Tommy happily obliges. An adamant Duke reminds Tommy that if he loses this, he will terminate their association. In a shocking turn of events, Rocky uses his brawling abilities to punish and humiliate Tommy. With his back against a gate, Rocky dodges several hooks from Tommy and manages to push him towards the gate, shoving him with brute force and a powerful left hook knocking Tommy down again. Duke threatens to sue Rocky if he touches him and becomes infuriated at Tommy. Tommy gets up and tackles Rocky to the ground and later lifts him up. Just as Robert joins the crowd, Rocky breaks free from Tommy’s grip and performs a reversal that sends Tommy spiraling into a pile of trash cans. Both men now exchange punches with Rocky being the aggressor, making Tommy miss his shots. Rocky is then caught by a series of punches by Tommy, just as Adrian joins the crowd, but manages to parry Tommy and begins to walk him down with his devastating shots. Seeing the opportunity, Rocky goes to Tommy’s body, then lands perfect headshots and finishes with a right uppercut sending Tommy to the grill of a bus, defeating his former protégé. As Adrian and Robert tend to him, Rocky tells Adrian that she was right. The neighborhood’s cheer is then silenced by Duke as he tries to sarcastically commend Rocky. He confronts Duke, who still continues to threaten him with a lawsuit. Since Rocky and his family have been declared bankrupt, Rocky clenches his fist and uppercuts Duke to the gut which lifts him off the ground, sending him to the hood of his own limousine, telling him «Sue me for what?». Rocky, Adrian, Robert, and Paulie walk away in good spirits as the neighborhood continues to cheer him on.

Some time later, Rocky and his son run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Rocky gives him a valuable possession of Mickey Goldmill’s that had been passed on to him by Rocky Marciano. The two make up for the tensions of the past few years and head into the museum together.

Rocky Balboa (2006)Edit

In 2006, 20 years after the events of Rocky V, Rocky, now in his early sixties, has been going through changing times in his life. He runs a small but rather successful restaurant called ‘Adrian’s’, named after his wife who died of ovarian cancer four years prior. Rocky is no longer depressed and broke, and is doing far better than he was in years prior. Rocky visits Adrian’s graveside regularly and each year, on the anniversary of her death, takes a tour of the old places, where their relationship began and blossomed: the now-closed J&M Tropical Fish pet shop where Adrian worked, the former site of the ice skating rink where they had their first date and Rocky’s old apartment, where they fell in love. Rocky’s son, Robert Jr., is now working as a struggling mid-level corporate employee and has been farther apart from his family over the years, but reluctantly joins Rocky to commemorate the anniversaries of his mother’s death.

An episode of ESPN’s program, Then and Now, airs featuring a computer-simulated fight between Rocky (in his prime) and the current champion, Mason «The Line» Dixon (Antonio Tarver). The simulation result sees Rocky winning by knockout in the thirteenth round, which stirs up a discussion about the result if such a fight ever occurred. Inspired by the simulation and feeling he still has some issues to deal with («stuff in the basement»), Rocky decides to return to the ring and applies to renew his boxing license. Though Rocky passes the required physical with flying colors, the licensing committee denies his application, citing his advanced age and their moral duty to protect him from himself. Rocky responds to this with an impassioned speech of his own and the committee change their minds to renew his license.

The brain damage Rocky is diagnosed within Rocky V is not addressed in this film, but in interviews, Stallone has said that the storyline explanation would have been that Rocky’s brain damage was within the normal range for boxers. When tested for brain damage in Rocky V, Rocky was suffering the effects of a severe concussion as a result of the Drago fight, but he never sought a second or more informed opinion because he intended to retire anyway.^[2]

Rocky’s intentions were originally just to compete in small, local fights, but with the publicity of Rocky’s return right on the heels of the embarrassing computer simulation, Mason Dixon’s promoters convince Rocky to challenge the champ in an exhibition match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Originally against fighting an aged Rocky, Dixon recognizes the opportunity to fight a legend and hopes to end all prognosticating about who would win as well as contentions that he has never had a truly great opponent or memorable match. In the press, commentators dismiss Rocky’s chances and the merits of the fight, assuming that it will be one-sided due to Rocky’s age, despite their original excitement with Rocky’s return to the ring, and their doubts regarding Dixon’s ability. Before the fight, the boxing record that was presented for each boxer was, for Rocky: 57 wins (54 by KO), 23 losses, and 1 draw; for Dixon: 33 wins (30 by KO).

As news of the bout spreads, Robert begins to feel more pressure from being Rocky’s son and makes an effort to discourage Rocky from fighting, blaming his own personal failings on his father’s celebrity shadow, but Rocky rebukes him with some profound advice: to succeed in life, «it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward» and that blaming others won’t help him. The day after this debate, father and son meet over Adrian’s grave and reconcile, which is when Robert announces that he has resigned from his job to be at ringside. Rocky also reunites with his old trainer, Duke, and both men quickly realize that age and arthritis have sapped Rocky of any speed he once possessed. They decide to focus on one major remaining weapon: power.

When the match begins, it appears to be as lopsided as everyone predicted, with Dixon’s speed allowing him to dominate Rocky at will, knocking him down twice early on. However, the champion soon realizes that Rocky will not back down and that the elderly Rocky «has bricks in his gloves». The tide turns when Dixon injures his hand while punching Rocky. This evens the playing field and allows Rocky to mount an offense, knocking Dixon down for the first time in the latter’s career. During the subsequent rounds, Dixon’s injury numbs up, which enables him to throw much harder punches and pose a threat to Rocky. In the final round, it starts out slow for both combatants. After a brief exchange of punches, Dixon catches Rocky with a strong blow, knocking down Rocky for the third time. As Rocky takes the knee, he looks to Robert in the corner and has flashbacks of his time with Adrian, remembering what she said to him about never giving up. As he slowly gets up, the crowd, along with Marie, starts to chant his name and he rises to Dixon’s surprise. As the final thirty seconds unfold, Dixon manages to catch Rocky with quick punches; however, an emotional Rocky retaliates with devastating punches of his own. The two exchange punches, but Rocky gets the final blow before the bell rings. In the end, the two fighters go the distance and show their appreciation for each other. Before the winner is announced, Rocky and his entourage make their way out of the ring in celebration. As Dixon is announced the winner by split decision ^[3]), Rocky thanks each and every one of his group and, with Robert and Paulie by his side, they turn Rocky around and raise his arms as the audience gives him a heartfelt standing ovation. Dixon is finally recognized as being a warrior for fighting through every round and Rocky proves to the world that he is no joke, mirroring the ending of the first film.

After the fight, Rocky visits Adrian’s grave and puts flowers on top, telling her, «Yo, Adrian, we did it», which is a play on the second film’s line, «Yo, Adrian, I did it!». Rocky is last seen walking away from the grave and waving goodbye one last time.

Creed (2015)Edit

Since Rocky’s very last fight, his brother-in-law Paulie has died. In addition, his statue has been re-installed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the very bottom of the steps. Three years later, Rocky is visited at Adrian’s by Donnie Creed (Michael B. Jordan) – Apollo’s illegitimate son, who grew up serving time at a juvenile detention center in Los Angeles. After Donnie grew up, he worked as a securities firm at the Smith Boardley Financial Group, but eventually resigned to be a boxer and moved to Philadelphia. Donnie meets Rocky at Adrian’s restaurant and requests him to train him, but Rocky is reluctant to come back to the sport of boxing after his brain damage and a one-off comeback. Days after his initial offer, Rocky recommends him to his friend, Pete Sporino (Ritchie Coster), who currently runs Mighty Mick’s Gym. After deep thought, Rocky finally agrees to take Donnie as his new protégé.

Wanting to train in the old-school style, Donnie moves in with Rocky, staying in Paulie’s former room. Donnie notices an old picture of Rocky and his son, Robert (an actual picture of Sylvester Stallone and a young Sage Stallone), Rocky reveals that Robert had moved to Vancouver with his girlfriend, because of the difficulties he faced trying to be independent in Philadelphia, but does check on his father every now and then. Pete, who initially wanted Rocky to be a part of his son, Leo’s (Gabriel Rosado) team, challenges Donnie to fight his son, in which Rocky shows reluctance again, but then both agree. Instead of training at Mighty Mick’s Gym, Rocky takes Donnie to train at the Front Street Gym, where he surprises Donnie with a corner team and apparel. Before the fight, Pete pulls Rocky aside to address the rumors of Donnie being Apollo’s son, which Rocky confirms, and tells him that he should not speak of it to anyone else. After Donnie’s win, the media heavily publicized the story of Apollo’s infidelity, which catches the eye of Tommy Holiday (Graham McTavish), who is looking for the final person to fight his trainee, light-heavyweight champion «Pretty» Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew). While training, Rocky suddenly stalls, vomits, and collapses in the gym. After doing a string of test ordered by the doctors at the emergency room, Rocky is diagnosed with an early case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, making him confront his own mortality. At first, Rocky is hesitant to the option of chemotherapy, as he remembers the pain Adrian experienced as she underwent treatment for ovarian cancer.

After a bitter argument with the former heavyweight champion, Donnie, greatly impacted by his coach’s diagnosis, makes a pact with Rocky that they would fight their battles together, as Donnie prepares for his bout with Conlan and as Rocky undergoes treatment. As Donnie moves on in training, the effects of treatment begin to weaken Rocky, and because of this, Donnie acts as a caregiver to Rocky while helping him get up and go to the restroom, and uses the medical facility to his advantage; shadowboxing in the corridors and running up the stairs, passing doctors and nurses. With the match taking place in Liverpool, a calm Rocky teaches Donnie the hysterics that would ensue during the pre-fight press conference when Conlan tries to play mind games, and later helps in Donnie’s girlfriend Bianca (Tessa Thompson) surprising Donnie in his hotel room. During the match, Rocky stands in Donnie’s corner along with Bianca. Before the final round, Rocky grows concerned about the injuries that Donnie has sustained and tells him he’s stopping the fight. However, Donnie wants to prove that he is «not a mistake», which emotionally impacts Rocky. He then tells Donnie that he wishes he had the chance to thank Apollo after Mickey died, but it doesn’t match his appreciation of Donnie’s tenacity that motivated him in his battle against his illness and tells him that he admires him. A newly motivated Adonis goes on to fights a competitive final round against Conlan, even knocking him down near the round’s conclusion, but ultimately loses the match by split decision in a manner that mirrors Rocky’s initial bout against Apollo.

The film concludes with Donnie taking a frail, but rather improving, Rocky back to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which Rocky says is his «most favorite place.» Both look toward the Philadelphia skyline, remaining positive about their futures.

Creed II (2018)Edit

Three years since his diagnosis, Rocky has recovered from his cancer and coached Donnie to the WBC World Heavyweight championship. Rocky gives Donnie advice in proposing to Bianca and uses his proposal with Adrian as an example. Rocky struggles with contacting Robert, with whom he has, once again, an estranged relationship.

Later on, Rocky drops by Adrian’s and finds Ivan Drago waiting for him there. Drago tells him how his loss to Rocky 33 years earlier shattered his reputation, evicted him from Russia into Ukraine, and led to his divorce from his wife, Ludmilla. Drago threatens him by saying his son, Viktor (Florian Munteanu), has trained all his life and will «break» Donnie, issuing a fight challenge to Donnie earlier that morning. Rocky, clearly shaken, politely tells Drago to leave.

Wanting to avenge his father and forge his own legacy, Donnie decides to take up Viktor’s challenge and goes to Rocky’s place for his approval. Rocky refuses to support Donnie, noting that Viktor was raised in hate and has nothing to lose, and that makes him dangerous. Despite Donnie’s pleas, Rocky declines to train him out of fear and guilt from Apollo’s fateful match years prior.

Rocky decides to watch Donnie and Viktor’s match, where he watches Viktor pummel Donnie repeatedly. Viktor illegally hits Donnie while he is down, knocking him unconscious; Rocky turns off his television in horror at what he has witnessed. Rocky travels to Los Angeles to visit a hospitalized Donnie, who lashes out at him for abandoning him.

With Donnie becoming detached from his family, Donnie’s stepmother and Apollo’s widow Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) contacts Rocky in helping him out of his slump. Donnie and Rocky make amends, and Rocky accompanies Donnie as Bianca gives birth to their daughter, Amara. When Amara is revealed to be deaf, Rocky advises him that they should not pity her condition, and instead treat her fully with their love.

Rocky and Tony «Little Duke» Evers (Wood Harris) take Donnie to a decrepit location in the California desert to retrain, describing it as a place where fighters are «reborn». Donnie undergoes a rigorous and brutal training regimen with Rocky, focusing on fighting from the inside and training his body to repeatedly absorb the heavy impact he knows he will receive from Viktor in the ring. Rocky accompanies Donnie as they hold their rematch with Viktor in Moscow; Donnie withstands Viktor’s blows and wins the match after Drago throws in the towel. Rocky doesn’t join Donnie’s celebration, saying that it’s «his time,» and watches in contentment from outside the ring.

Rocky later travels to Vancouver where he reunites with Robert and meets his grandson Logan for the first time. Rocky is now 73 years old.

FutureEdit

On July 23, 2019, in an interview with Variety, Stallone said that a Rocky direct sequel and prequel are in development. Producer Irwin Winkler said «We’re very high on it» and those negotiations are underway for Stallone to write and star in the feature. Stallone said the plot of the movie would be about Rocky befriending a young fighter who is an undocumented immigrant. «Rocky meets a young, angry person who got stuck in this country when he comes to see his sister. He takes him into his life, and unbelievable adventures begin, and they wind up south of the border. It’s very, very timely.» Stallone said. Stallone also said there are «ongoing discussions» about a Rocky prequel television series, which he hopes will land on a streaming service and the series will likely follow a young Rocky Balboa as professional boxing hopeful. Stallone said Winkler is hesitant on making the series saying that «There was some conflict there, yes. He felt in his mind that Rocky was primarily a feature film, and he did not see it as being translated for cable, so there was a big bone of contention.»^[4]^[5]

Personal lifeEdit

Balboa resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and married Adriana «Adrian» Pennino in 1976. They were married for 26 years. The two have a son, Robert Balboa Jr., who unlike his father goes by Robert.

After Adrian’s death in 2002, Rocky and his brother-in-law Paulie lived together for a short time, then Paulie moved in with an unnamed girlfriend. Now living completely alone again, Rocky cannot come to terms with present-day living and constantly thinks about the past. With the help of Paulie and reunited long-time acquaintance Marie, Rocky begins to move on with his life and in the process restores his relationship with his only child, Robert. Rocky’s relationship with Marie is established as platonic in the film, but a hint of romantic interest is revealed with a kiss on the lips the night before the last fight of his life.

Shortly after, Paulie passes away and his relationship with his son becomes strained due to Robert distancing himself from any contact with him, leaving him alone again. A few years later, he meets Adonis Creed, the illegitimate son of his old friend, Apollo Creed, who asks him to come train him. After initially declining to, Rocky agreed and the two would have a father-son relationship. Eventually, Rocky learns he’s been diagnosed with cancer and turns down treatment, seeing it as a chance to be reunited with his loved ones, although Adonis convinces him to keep fighting and decides to take treatment, saving him. When Adonis’s wife, Bianca, gave birth to a daughter, Rocky was named her godfather.

For years, Rocky attempted to reestablish contact with his estranged son, Robert, but never went through with it. However, after helping Adonis conquer Viktor Drago, Rocky decides to visit his son in Vancouver where they finally begin to reconcile and meets his grandson, Logan, who bears a striking resemblance to Adrian.

Character originEdit

The name, iconography, and fighting style of Rocky Balboa was inspired by the legendary heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano from Brockton, Massachusetts and from the 5 times world champion Roberto ‘Manos de Piedra (Hands of Stone)’ Durán, from Panama, where the Balboa is the official currency. Balboa was also inspired by other fighting legends: Joe Frazier, for his Philadelphia origin, training methods and victory against Muhammad Ali (the inspiration for Apollo Creed), and Jake LaMotta, for his Italian-inner city roots, ability to absorb many blows and his rivalry with Sugar Ray Robinson, which heavily resembled Rocky and Apollo’s. However, it was Chuck Wepner who inspired the movie and Balboa’s underdog personality.

Early in my acting career I realized the only way I would ever prove myself was to create my own role in my own script. On my 29th birthday, I had $106 in the bank. My best birthday present was a sudden revelation that I had to write the kind of screenplay that I personally enjoyed seeing. I relished stories of heroism, great love, dignity, and courage, dramas of people rising above their stations, taking life by the throat and not letting go until they succeeded. But I had so many ideas in my head, I couldn’t focus on any one. To cheer myself up, I took the last of my entertainment money and went to see the Ali-Wepner fight on closed circuit TV. Chuck Wepner, a battling, bruising club fighter who had never made the big time, was having his shot. It wasn’t at all regarded as a serious battle. But as the fight progressed, this miracle unfolded. He hung in there. People went absolutely crazy. Wepner was knocked out in the 15th and final round, almost lasting the distance. We had witnessed an incredible triumph of the human spirit and we loved it.
That night, Rocky Balboa was born. People looked on him as the all-American tragedy, a man without much mentality and few social graces. But he has deep emotion and spirituality and good patriotism. And he has a good nature, although nature has not been particularly good to him. I have always seen him as a 20th Century gladiator in a pair of sneakers. Like so many of us, he is out of sync with the times. To all this, I injected doses of my own personal life, of my frustration at not getting anywhere.

— Sylvester Stallone^[6]

Boxing styleEdit

Rocky Balboa
Statistics
Weight(s)	Cruiserweight Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Born	July 6, 1945 (age 77) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	81
Wins	57
Wins by KO	54
Losses	23
Draws	1

Rocky Balboa fights as a southpaw (left-handed). In the second film, against Apollo Creed, he comes out orthodox and Mickey intends for him to switch back to southpaw late in the last round, but Balboa refuses saying «no tricks, I ain’t switching». Mickey tells him that Apollo is ready for him (if he continues using his right) and so towards the end of the round, he does indeed lead with his left. The real reason for this is Sylvester Stallone tore his pectoral muscles in training,^{[citation needed]} but the idea was probably taken from the great southpaw boxer «Marvelous» Marvin Hagler who would sometimes come out orthodox to confuse opponents.^{[citation needed]}

Rocky was an all-or-nothing brawler coming into his first bout with Creed; however, under the training of Mickey, he began to develop his boxing skills which he eventually mastered. During his reign as world champion, he became a class hybrid fighter, possessing the qualities of an inside fighter, brawler, and swarmer. With the exception of his rematch against Clubber Lang (where he fights as an outside fighter), he often advances quickly upon his opponents, driving them into the ropes in order to attack the body. Balboa’s best attribute is without question his near-superhuman ability to absorb a multitude of the hardest hits without falling — an attribute he often employs on purpose to wear down his opponents, sacrificing defensive strategy to land his own punches. Because of this rare talent, Balboa can afford to keep his hands in position to strike rather than up high to block. Because he takes more punches than he throws, it is easy to overlook his incredible punching power. Rocky also has an uncanny ability to sense weakness in his opponents, often capitalizing on every shift in momentum possible. He is acknowledged as having the most devastating body attack in the sport, with his body blows causing internal bleeding in Creed and breaking Drago’s ribs. After going two rounds with Balboa, Ivan Drago told his trainer (in Russian), «He’s not human, he’s like a piece of iron.» Mason Dixon once remarked about Balboa: «that guy’s got bricks in his gloves.» These qualities, in concert, helped land him a high percentage of KO victories over the course of his career.

HonorsEdit

Rocky Balboa was named the 7th greatest movie hero by the American Film Institute on their 100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains list.^[7] Additionally, he was ranked No. 36 on Empire Magazine’s compilation of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters.^[8] Premiere magazine ranked Rocky Balboa No. 64 on their list of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.^[9]

The Rocky character is immortalised with a bronze statue erected near the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art recalling the famous scene from the original Rocky movie.

In 2007, a Rocky statue was erected in the Serbian village of Žitiste.^[10]

In 2011, Sylvester Stallone was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his work on the Rocky Balboa character, having «entertained and inspired boxing fans from around the world». Additionally, Stallone was awarded the Boxing Writers Association of America award for «Lifetime Cinematic Achievement in Boxing.»^[11] Inspired by people criticizing an actor being inducted in the Hall of Fame for playing a ficticious athlete, in 2014 the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame was launched with Rocky Balboa as its Inaugural Induction.^[12]^[13]

A poll of former heavyweight champions and boxing writers ranked Balboa as the best boxer in the film series.^[14]

MerchandisingEdit

Hasbro intended to license Rocky and make him a member of the G.I. Joe toyline, as they had with wrestler Sgt. Slaughter and began negotiations with Stallone’s representation. Marvel Comics’ G.I. Joe: Order of Battle profile book came out during the negotiations and included Rocky as a current Joe member, specializing in hand-to-hand combat training and an example of what it means to persevere under seemingly impossible odds. Balboa also appeared on the cover of the issue. In the meantime, Stallone’s agents made a deal with Coleco to produce Rambo figures in order to compete with the G.I. Joe line. Hasbro, who was working on a toy prototype^[15] at the time, decided to end negotiations at that point. Marvel ran a retraction in the third issue of the limited-run series indicating that the character was not, and never had been, a part of G.I. Joe.^[16] The trade paperback edition of the series, published in July 1987, omitted the page featuring Balboa altogether.

Between 2006 and 2009, Jakks Pacific released six series of figures, each focused on one of the movies in the film series. Additionally, two «Best Of» series were released, as well as several collector’s box sets, boxing ring playsets, and limited edition exclusive figures.^[17]

NotesEdit

^ However, despite Rocky’s Italian ethnicity, the surname Balboa (Italian pronunciation: [balˈbɔːa]; roughly meaning «beautiful valley») generally originates from a Galician-speaking town in northwestern Spain

ReferencesEdit

^ King, Susan (January 11, 2016). «Golden Globes: Sylvester Stallone wins by a knockout». Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
^ «Round One With Sylvester Stallone Q&A!!». Aintitcool.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «Rocky Balboa Alternate Ending — He Wins! (Video)». FightSaga.com. August 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
^ «Sylvester Stallone Feels Robbed of an Ownership Stake in ‘Rocky’: ‘I Was Furious’«. Variety. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^ «Sylvester Stallone Reveals ‘Rocky’ Sequel and Prequel Are in Development». popculture.com. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^ «Rocky: Behind the Scenes Rocky (1976) | Making Of Rocky». Totalrocky.com. June 20, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains» (PDF). afi.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Empire’s The 100 Greatest Movie Characters». Empire Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Premiere’s The 100 Greatest Movie Characters». Filmsite.org. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Otkriven spomenik Rokiju u Žitištu». B92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved November 29, 2021.
^ «Sylvester Stallone». International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
^ «Rocky Balboa». Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^ Radley, Scott (September 27, 2016). «RADLEY: A Hall of Fame natural». The Hamilton Spectator. MetroLand Media.
^ «The Definitive Ranking of Rocky Fighters». Ruthless Reviews. September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^ «Sculpt: Rocky Balboa». Yojoe.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «Comic Book Legends Revealed #233». Comic Book Resources. November 12, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ «Rocky (Jakks Pacific)». The Toy Box. December 31, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

Achievements
Preceded by Apollo Creed	World Heavyweight Champion November 25, 1976 – August 15, 1981 (In-universe)	Succeeded by Clubber Lang
Preceded by Clubber Lang	World Heavyweight Champion July 6, 1982 – January 1, 1986 (In-universe) Retired	Vacant Title next held by Union Cane

Achievements

Preceded by

Apollo Creed

World Heavyweight Champion
November 25, 1976 – August 15, 1981
(In-universe)

Succeeded by

Clubber Lang

Preceded by

Clubber Lang

World Heavyweight Champion
July 6, 1982 – January 1, 1986
(In-universe)
Retired

Vacant

Title next held by

Union Cane

Источник

Rocky Balboa The Italian Stallion
Rocky character
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in Rocky III (1982)
First appearance	Rocky (1976)
Last appearance	Creed II (2018)
Created by	Sylvester Stallone
Based on	Chuck Wepner/Rocky Marciano
Portrayed by	Sylvester Stallone
In-universe information
Full name	Robert Balboa
Alias	Rocky
Nicknames	The Italian Stallion The Pride of Philadelphia Philadelphia’s Favorite Son The Iron Horse Stallion Unc Rocco Rock Meatball
Title	World Heavyweight Champion
Occupation	Professional boxer Restaurant owner Boxing trainer Loan Shark Collector
Spouse	Adrian Pennino (deceased)
Children	Robert Balboa Jr. (son)
Relatives	Paulie Pennino (brother-in-law; deceased) Logan Balboa (grandson) Amara Creed (goddaughter) Donnie Creed (surrogate nephew) Amara Creed (surrogate great-niece)
Religion	Catholicism
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Italian

Character biography[edit]

Rocky (1976)[edit]

Rocky II (1979)[edit]

Rocky III (1982)[edit]

Rocky IV (1985)[edit]

Rocky V (1990)[edit]

Rocky Balboa (2006)[edit]

Creed (2015)[edit]

Creed II (2018)[edit]

Rocky later travels to Vancouver where he reunites with Robert and meets his grandson Logan for the first time. Rocky is now 73 years old.

Future[edit]

Personal life[edit]

Character origin[edit]

Early in my acting career I realized the only way I would ever prove myself was to create my own role in my own script. On my 29th birthday, I had $106 in the bank. My best birthday present was a sudden revelation that I had to write the kind of screenplay that I personally enjoyed seeing. I relished stories of heroism, great love, dignity, and courage, dramas of people rising above their stations, taking life by the throat and not letting go until they succeeded. But I had so many ideas in my head, I couldn’t focus on any one. To cheer myself up, I took the last of my entertainment money and went to see the Ali-Wepner fight on closed circuit TV. Chuck Wepner, a battling, bruising club fighter who had never made the big time, was having his shot. It wasn’t at all regarded as a serious battle. But as the fight progressed, this miracle unfolded. He hung in there. People went absolutely crazy. Wepner was knocked out in the 15th and final round, almost lasting the distance. We had witnessed an incredible triumph of the human spirit and we loved it.
That night, Rocky Balboa was born. People looked on him as the all-American tragedy, a man without much mentality and few social graces. But he has deep emotion and spirituality and good patriotism. And he has a good nature, although nature has not been particularly good to him. I have always seen him as a 20th Century gladiator in a pair of sneakers. Like so many of us, he is out of sync with the times. To all this, I injected doses of my own personal life, of my frustration at not getting anywhere.

— Sylvester Stallone^[6]

Boxing style[edit]

Rocky Balboa
Statistics
Weight(s)	Cruiserweight Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Born	July 6, 1945 (age 77) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	81
Wins	57
Wins by KO	54
Losses	23
Draws	1

Honors[edit]

The Rocky character is immortalised with a bronze statue erected near the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art recalling the famous scene from the original Rocky movie.

In 2007, a Rocky statue was erected in the Serbian village of Žitiste.^[10]

A poll of former heavyweight champions and boxing writers ranked Balboa as the best boxer in the film series.^[14]

Merchandising[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ However, despite Rocky’s Italian ethnicity, the surname Balboa (Italian pronunciation: [balˈbɔːa]; roughly meaning «beautiful valley») generally originates from a Galician-speaking town in northwestern Spain

References[edit]

^ King, Susan (January 11, 2016). «Golden Globes: Sylvester Stallone wins by a knockout». Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
^ «Round One With Sylvester Stallone Q&A!!». Aintitcool.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «Rocky Balboa Alternate Ending — He Wins! (Video)». FightSaga.com. August 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
^ «Sylvester Stallone Feels Robbed of an Ownership Stake in ‘Rocky’: ‘I Was Furious’«. Variety. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^ «Sylvester Stallone Reveals ‘Rocky’ Sequel and Prequel Are in Development». popculture.com. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^ «Rocky: Behind the Scenes Rocky (1976) | Making Of Rocky». Totalrocky.com. June 20, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains» (PDF). afi.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Empire’s The 100 Greatest Movie Characters». Empire Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Premiere’s The 100 Greatest Movie Characters». Filmsite.org. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Otkriven spomenik Rokiju u Žitištu». B92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved November 29, 2021.
^ «Sylvester Stallone». International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
^ «Rocky Balboa». Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^ Radley, Scott (September 27, 2016). «RADLEY: A Hall of Fame natural». The Hamilton Spectator. MetroLand Media.
^ «The Definitive Ranking of Rocky Fighters». Ruthless Reviews. September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^ «Sculpt: Rocky Balboa». Yojoe.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «Comic Book Legends Revealed #233». Comic Book Resources. November 12, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ «Rocky (Jakks Pacific)». The Toy Box. December 31, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

Achievements
Preceded by Apollo Creed	World Heavyweight Champion November 25, 1976 – August 15, 1981 (In-universe)	Succeeded by Clubber Lang
Preceded by Clubber Lang	World Heavyweight Champion July 6, 1982 – January 1, 1986 (In-universe) Retired	Vacant Title next held by Union Cane

Achievements

Preceded by

Apollo Creed

World Heavyweight Champion
November 25, 1976 – August 15, 1981
(In-universe)

Succeeded by

Clubber Lang

Preceded by

Clubber Lang

World Heavyweight Champion
July 6, 1982 – January 1, 1986
(In-universe)
Retired

Vacant

Title next held by

Union Cane

Источник

Rocky Balboa The Italian Stallion
Rocky character
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in Rocky III (1982)
First appearance	Rocky (1976)
Last appearance	Creed II (2018)
Created by	Sylvester Stallone
Based on	Chuck Wepner/Rocky Marciano
Portrayed by	Sylvester Stallone
In-universe information
Full name	Robert Balboa
Alias	Rocky
Nicknames	The Italian Stallion The Pride of Philadelphia Philadelphia’s Favorite Son The Iron Horse Stallion Unc Rocco Rock Meatball
Title	World Heavyweight Champion
Occupation	Professional boxer Restaurant owner Boxing trainer Loan Shark Collector
Spouse	Adrian Pennino (deceased)
Children	Robert Balboa Jr. (son)
Relatives	Paulie Pennino (brother-in-law; deceased) Logan Balboa (grandson) Amara Creed (goddaughter) Donnie Creed (surrogate nephew) Amara Creed (surrogate great-niece)
Religion	Catholicism
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Italian

Character biography[edit]

Rocky (1976)[edit]

Rocky II (1979)[edit]

Rocky III (1982)[edit]

Rocky IV (1985)[edit]

Rocky V (1990)[edit]

Rocky Balboa (2006)[edit]

Creed (2015)[edit]

Creed II (2018)[edit]

Rocky later travels to Vancouver where he reunites with Robert and meets his grandson Logan for the first time. Rocky is now 73 years old.

Future[edit]

Personal life[edit]

Character origin[edit]

Early in my acting career I realized the only way I would ever prove myself was to create my own role in my own script. On my 29th birthday, I had $106 in the bank. My best birthday present was a sudden revelation that I had to write the kind of screenplay that I personally enjoyed seeing. I relished stories of heroism, great love, dignity, and courage, dramas of people rising above their stations, taking life by the throat and not letting go until they succeeded. But I had so many ideas in my head, I couldn’t focus on any one. To cheer myself up, I took the last of my entertainment money and went to see the Ali-Wepner fight on closed circuit TV. Chuck Wepner, a battling, bruising club fighter who had never made the big time, was having his shot. It wasn’t at all regarded as a serious battle. But as the fight progressed, this miracle unfolded. He hung in there. People went absolutely crazy. Wepner was knocked out in the 15th and final round, almost lasting the distance. We had witnessed an incredible triumph of the human spirit and we loved it.
That night, Rocky Balboa was born. People looked on him as the all-American tragedy, a man without much mentality and few social graces. But he has deep emotion and spirituality and good patriotism. And he has a good nature, although nature has not been particularly good to him. I have always seen him as a 20th Century gladiator in a pair of sneakers. Like so many of us, he is out of sync with the times. To all this, I injected doses of my own personal life, of my frustration at not getting anywhere.

— Sylvester Stallone^[6]

Boxing style[edit]

Rocky Balboa
Statistics
Weight(s)	Cruiserweight Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Born	July 6, 1945 (age 77) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	81
Wins	57
Wins by KO	54
Losses	23
Draws	1

Honors[edit]

The Rocky character is immortalised with a bronze statue erected near the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art recalling the famous scene from the original Rocky movie.

In 2007, a Rocky statue was erected in the Serbian village of Žitiste.^[10]

A poll of former heavyweight champions and boxing writers ranked Balboa as the best boxer in the film series.^[14]

Merchandising[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ However, despite Rocky’s Italian ethnicity, the surname Balboa (Italian pronunciation: [balˈbɔːa]; roughly meaning «beautiful valley») generally originates from a Galician-speaking town in northwestern Spain

References[edit]

^ King, Susan (January 11, 2016). «Golden Globes: Sylvester Stallone wins by a knockout». Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
^ «Round One With Sylvester Stallone Q&A!!». Aintitcool.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «Rocky Balboa Alternate Ending — He Wins! (Video)». FightSaga.com. August 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
^ «Sylvester Stallone Feels Robbed of an Ownership Stake in ‘Rocky’: ‘I Was Furious’«. Variety. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^ «Sylvester Stallone Reveals ‘Rocky’ Sequel and Prequel Are in Development». popculture.com. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
^ «Rocky: Behind the Scenes Rocky (1976) | Making Of Rocky». Totalrocky.com. June 20, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains» (PDF). afi.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Empire’s The 100 Greatest Movie Characters». Empire Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Premiere’s The 100 Greatest Movie Characters». Filmsite.org. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
^ «Otkriven spomenik Rokiju u Žitištu». B92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved November 29, 2021.
^ «Sylvester Stallone». International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
^ «Rocky Balboa». Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^ Radley, Scott (September 27, 2016). «RADLEY: A Hall of Fame natural». The Hamilton Spectator. MetroLand Media.
^ «The Definitive Ranking of Rocky Fighters». Ruthless Reviews. September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^ «Sculpt: Rocky Balboa». Yojoe.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
^ «Comic Book Legends Revealed #233». Comic Book Resources. November 12, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ «Rocky (Jakks Pacific)». The Toy Box. December 31, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

Achievements
Preceded by Apollo Creed	World Heavyweight Champion November 25, 1976 – August 15, 1981 (In-universe)	Succeeded by Clubber Lang
Preceded by Clubber Lang	World Heavyweight Champion July 6, 1982 – January 1, 1986 (In-universe) Retired	Vacant Title next held by Union Cane

Achievements

Preceded by

Apollo Creed

World Heavyweight Champion
November 25, 1976 – August 15, 1981
(In-universe)

Succeeded by

Clubber Lang

Preceded by

Clubber Lang

World Heavyweight Champion
July 6, 1982 – January 1, 1986
(In-universe)
Retired

Vacant

Title next held by

Union Cane

Источник

«You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.«

―Rocky Balboa to Rocky Balboa, Jr. in Rocky Balboa

This article is about The boxer named Rocky Balboa. You may be looking for The film titled Rocky Balboa.

This article is about The boxer named Rocky Balboa. You may be looking for The video game called Rocky Balboa.

Robert «Rocky» Balboa, Sr. (born July 6, 1946) is an American retired heavyweight boxer and former Two-Time Heavyweight Champion. He is famous for his indomitable spirit, extreme tenacity and ferocious body attack. Balboa is the titular protagonist in Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa and the deuteragonist in Creed and Creed II.

Appearance

Rocky Balboa is a man with a highly athletic, muscular build and a Mediterranean complexion. He has wavy black hair (silver as of Creed) and brown eyes.

Biography

Early Life

Robert «Rocky» Balboa was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 1945. He was the only child in a Roman Catholic Italian-American family. As a child, Rocky was never any real good at school and dropped out before even completing highschool.

Rocky’s father, who was never the smartest guy either according to his son, and Rocky remembered his father; «My old man, who was never the sharpest, told me I weren’t born with much brain, so I better use my body.»

In the late-1960s, Rocky took up boxing as a sport, becoming a fighter, and began training at Mighty Mick’s gym with Micky, the gyms owner, never paying him any mind initially. However, unable to live on the low pay of club fights, and being unable to find work anywhere else due to his illiteracy, Rocky got a job as a collector for Tony Gazzo, the local loan shark, just to make ends meet.

Rocky: An Opportunity

By 1975, Rocky at 30 years old has a pretty decent record as a boxer, 43-21, 40 wins by KO, but his defense was terrible, and his moves predictable, basic, and slow. But what he does have going for him is his punching power, which was immense, and that he could take quite a bit of punishment.

On November 25, 1975, Rocky Balboa is introduced as a small-time boxer and «leg-breaker,» or debt collector, for an apparently «connected» loan shark named Anthony Gazzo. He lives in the Kensington neighbourhood of Philadelphia. Rocky is first seen defeating the boxer Spider Rico in the second round, but is considered by the audience to be a bum. The World Heavyweight Championship bout, with undefeated heavyweight champion Apollo Creed defending against Mac Lee Green, is scheduled to take place at the Philadelphia Spectrum on New Year’s Day 1976, the year of the United States Bicentennial. When Green drops out because of an injured hand, Creed and his entourage, and trainer (Tony «Duke» Evers) are stymied on what to do. Other contenders say there is not enough time to get into shape.

Creed comes up with the idea of giving a local underdog a shot at the title and, because he likes Rocky’s nickname «The Italian Stallion,» he selects the relatively unknown fighter. He puts it in lights by proclaiming «Apollo Creed Meets The Italian Stallion.» The fight promoter Miles Jergens says the decision is «very American»; but Creed says, rather, that it is «very smart.»

Rocky initially hesitant, refuses, but is later convinced when he learns he’ll be payed for the match, getting a significant lump sum of $150,000.

Rocky training for his big fight with Apollo.

To prepare for the fight, Rocky trains with a 1920s-era ex-bantamweight fighter and gym owner, Mickey Goldmill. Mickey always considered Rocky’s potential to be better than his effort—telling him he had heart but also calling him a «tomato» and «leg breaker for some cheap second-rate loan shark» among other endearments, and putting Rocky out of his gym locker preceding the «freak luck» opportunity that comes Rocky’s way, and Rocky is initially skeptical of Mickey’s motives and timing for wanting to train Rocky for the big fight. Rocky’s good friend Paulie Pennino, a meat-packing-plant worker, lets him practice his punches on the carcasses hanging in the freezers.

Rocky courts and eventually dates Paulie’s shy, quiet sister, Adrian Pennino, who works as a clerk in a local pet store. He draws Adrian out of her shell and, as Rocky’s girlfriend, she begins to gain in confidence. Paulie, however, is jealous of the relationship. The night before the fight, Rocky privately tours the Spectrum and notices the photograph of him wearing the wrong coloured shorts. Mr. Jergens tells Rocky the incorrect photograph doesn’t really matter. Dejected, Rocky confides to Adrian that he does not expect to beat Creed and that all he wants is to go the distance because no one had ever gone the distance with Creed.

Rocky and Apollo during the fight.

On New Year’s Day, the climactic boxing match begins. Apollo Creed has never taken the fight seriously, and Rocky unexpectedly knocks him down in the first round (the first time Creed has been knocked down in his professional career), embarrassing Creed, and the match turns intense. Creed’s prediction that he would knockout Rocky in three rounds is quickly erased as the two fighters engage in a brutal match. Creed realises that he has underestimated his opponent and desperately defends his title. The fight indeed lasts 15 rounds, with both fighters sustaining many injuries; Rocky suffers his first broken nose and debilitating trauma around the eye, and Creed sustains brutal blows to his ribs with substantial internal bleeding. As the match progresses, Creed’s superior skill is countered by Rocky’s apparently unlimited ability to absorb punishment, and his dogged refusal to be knocked out. As the final round bell sounds, with both fighters locked in each others arms, an exhausted Creed vows «Ain’t gonna be no re-match,» to which an equally spent Rocky replies, «Don’t want one.»

After the fight, multiple layers of drama are played out: sportscasters and audience are going wild; the promoter/ring announcer Miles Jergens announces over the loudspeaker that the match was «the greatest exhibition of guts and stamina in the history of the ring»; Rocky calls out repeatedly for Adrian, who runs down and comes into the ring as Paulie distracts the security personnel. As Jergens declares Apollo Creed the winner by virtue of a split decision (8:7, 7:8, 9:6), Adrian and Rocky embrace while they profess their love to one another, not caring about the result of the fight. After that fight, Rocky Balboa became a national celebrity and endorsements poured in for him.

Rocky II: The Rematch

Following the fight at the end of Rocky, in which Apollo Creed has successfully defended his heavyweight title in a split decision, he and Rocky are taken to the same hospital for treatment of their injuries. Apollo challenges Rocky to a rematch in front of the press, but Rocky declines and announces his retirement. Rocky became a national celebrity and a worldwide hero going the distance against Creed.

As life went on, Rocky turned 31, and he was offered a lot of endorsements offers after that fight. His girlfriend Adrian supports this choice, as do his doctors, who reveal he will require surgery for a detached retina, which could lead to permanent blindness. After Rocky is discharged from the hospital, he begins to enjoy the benefits of his life’s changes resulting from the match: Rocky used his earnings from the match to buy a house, an expensive sports car, and showers himself, Adrian, and Paulie in extravagant gifts and blows his money fast. However he’s not worried for Rocky’s new fame attracts him an agent who sees Rocky as a potential endorsement and sponsorship goldmine and his sudden wealth encourages him to propose to Adrian. She happily accepts and they marry in a small ceremony. Soon after, Rocky and Adrian happily learn that Adrian is pregnant with their first child. His Beast AfterShave commercial was terrible, he care barely read the lines. He quit after that. Now out of money for all his bad spending habits, he couldn’t find any other job, since he never graduated high school and they offered him a manual labor job. But Paulie, his brother in law gave him his old job at Shamrock Meat. Rocky needed the money and he took it. Rocky loved that job, but he got fired because they were cutting back. He went to Mickey and ask him to train him. He is considering accepting a rematch against Creed. He went the distance last time, maybe this time he will go for the win. But Mickey was against it, tested him that he doesn’t have the tools like he used to. Rocky asked him for a job in his gym, Mickey accepted it.

Meanwhile, fuelled by hate mail he has started to receive by the outraged fans, who claim that he was defeated and that the judges were voting in his favour, Apollo becomes obsessed with the idea that a rematch is the only way to prove that Rocky’s performance was simply a fluke. Determined to rectify his boxing career’s only blemish, Apollo ignores all pleas by his friends and family to forget the fight and move on to other potential opponents, and instead, demands his team do whatever necessary to goad Rocky out of retirement and into a rematch with him.

Rocky at first seems unaffected by Apollo’s smear campaign, but his inexperience with money causes him to run into financial problems. After largely unsuccessful attempts to find employment, Rocky visits Mickey Goldmill — his trainer and manager — at his gym to talk about the possibility of returning to the ring. At first, Mickey refuses, worried about Rocky’s health, but changes his mind after Apollo publicly insults Rocky on television. Adrian confronts Rocky about the danger of returning to fighting and reminds him of the risk to his eyesight. Rocky argues he knows nothing else so this is the only way he can provide. Adrian, angry at Rocky for breaking his promise, refuses to support him.

Rocky and Mickey begin training, but it soon becomes apparent Rocky is not focused on the job at hand due to Adrian’s disapproval. Adrian’s brother, Paulie, confronts his sister about not supporting her husband, but she faints during the confrontation and is rushed to the hospital where she goes into labor. Despite being premature, the baby is healthy, but Adrian falls into a coma. Rocky blames himself for what has happened and refuses to leave Adrian’s bedside until she wakes up, and will not go to see his new baby until they can see it together. When Adrian comes out of her coma, she finds Rocky by her bedside and the couple are shown their new baby, a boy, which they name Robert «Rocky» jr. Adrian gives her blessing to the rematch, which enables Rocky to refocus on his training and he quickly gets into shape for the fight.

Rocky defeats Apollo Creed and Becomes World Champion.

The night of the fight arrives and Apollo has made a public goal of beating Rocky in no more than two rounds to prove the first fight going the full 15 rounds was a fluke. Rocky, fighting right-handed to protect his eye instead of his natural southpaw, is not able to mount much of an offensive effort through the first two rounds but manages to survive them, disproving Apollo’s theory that the first fight’s result was a fluke. As before, the fight once again reaches the 15th round, by which point Apollo has built a lead on points that Rocky cannot possibly beat. However, Apollo’s obsession with knocking Rocky out (against the advice of his corner men) leads him to trade blows with Rocky despite his lead.

In the final round, Rocky, who switched the tactics and is fighting left-handed again, lands a devastating blow on Apollo that knocks the champ down, but an exhausted Rocky loses his balance and falls to the canvas as well. One or other have a struggle to get up or there would be a draw with Creed retaining the title. Rocky manages to stand up at nine and a half before the referee counts to ten, while Apollo is counted out, having his first defeat. Rocky thus wins the fight by knockout and becomes the heavyweight champion of the world. In his post-fight announcement Rocky, who has won back the respect of his fans and Adrian, humbly thanks Apollo for the match.

Rocky III: The New Challenge

One of Rocky’s many endorsements.

In the three years since winning the world heavyweight title, Rocky has had a string of ten successful title defences and has seen his fame, wealth and celebrity increase. Rocky did better in commercials like he did last time and he earned those endorsements when he won the title. Meanwhile, Rocky’s trainer Mickey worriedly eyes a young and hungry fighter named James «Clubber» Lang. Lang rapidly climbs the ranks with six consecutive knockouts and is now the number one contender for Rocky’s heavyweight championship.

Rocky at the ceremony of his statue.

While unveiling a statue of himself at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky is publicly challenged by Lang. Lang accuses Rocky of selective matchmaking by intentionally accepting challenges from lesser opponents. Lang also questions Rocky’s manhood to his wife Adrian enraging Rocky, who accepts his challenge.

Rocky’s trainer Mickey initially wants no part of the match and refuses to train Rocky. After Rocky demands to know why, Mickey tells him that Lang was correct and all of his title defenses were fought against handpicked opponents in order to keep him successful, as well as to avoid more devastating injuries, such as the ones he suffered in the fight against Apollo Creed in their two matches. Mickey also tells Rocky that if he fights Lang, he would «kill (him) to death inside of three rounds» because Lang is younger, stronger, and hungrier than Rocky. Knowing this, Rocky questions his whole title reign and Mickey agrees to train Rocky for the fight, which Rocky declares will be his last.

Rocky during his open training.

Both fighters go in different directions in regards to their training for the fight. Lang works out alone in a spartan setting with very little equipment. Rocky, on the other hand, rents out a hotel ballroom and opens his training camp to the public with dozens of distractions that frustrate Mickey, who fears they will lead to disaster in the fight.

Rocky gets knocked out and loses his title.

Lang and Rocky meet at Philadelphia’s Spectrum. During a melee before the fight, Lang shoves Mickey, who suffers a heart attack. Rocky decides to call off the fight, but Mickey refuses and implores him to fight and win. As the fight begins, Rocky comes out aggressively and tries to knock out the challenger early. Lang, however, is unfazed by the early assault and quickly takes control of the fight. By the end of the first round Rocky is battered and bloody, and calls for Mickey. The condition of his trainer continues to distract him into the second round, where Lang knocks Rocky out to win the title.

Rocky heads back to his dressing room, where Mickey has taken a turn for the worse. Rocky tells Mickey that the fight ended by knockout in the second round but does not say he lost. He tries to convince Mickey there is more to do, but Mickey simply says, «I love ya, kid,» and perishes in Rocky’s arms. Rocky is devastated at losing his manager, mentor and father figure.

Rocky goes into a deep depression fuelled by Mickey’s passing, no longer sure if he was ever truly the champion. One night, he rides to his statue and in a fit of anger throws his motorcycle helmet at it. He then stops at Mickey’s now-shuttered gym where he is confronted by Apollo Creed, who tells him that Rocky has lost his edge and needs to get it back. To do this, Apollo offers to train Rocky for a rematch with Lang. Rocky agrees and he, with Adrian and Paulie, follows Apollo to Los Angeles. Apollo’s plan is to take Rocky back to the basics, from putting him and his family up in an old, unkempt hotel in Creed’s old neighbourhood, as well as returning to his old gym, where he hooks Rocky up with Duke, Apollo’s former trainer.

Rocky and Apollo celebrating Rocky getting his Eye of the Tiger back.

Despite Apollo’s best efforts at getting Rocky back into fighting shape, Rocky is still distraught and disillusioned. However, Adrian finally decides to talk to Rocky who, in his frustration, admits to being afraid and feeling responsible for Mickey’s death. Through heated compassionate criticism Adrian is finally able to talk him out of his funk and convince him to get back on track, and with Apollo and Duke’s expertise, Rocky develops into a completely different fighter by trading his power game for a quick hitting counter-attacking style, which confuses everyone including Lang.

Rocky punching Lang during the fight.

The rematch is held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. At the start of the fight, Rocky sprints from his corner, fighting with a level of skill and spirit that no one expected. As a result, Rocky dominates the first round. After the bell, Lang is in a fit of rage and has to be restrained by his trainers. In the second round, Rocky starts as he did in the first. However, Lang gains the upper hand; from here he dominates Rocky, knocking him down twice. Getting up from the second KD, Rocky adopts a strategy that bewilders Apollo (and Lang) by intentionally taking a beating from Lang while taunting him for being unable to knock him out. The round ends with a verbal altercation between Lang and Rocky.

Rocky knocks out Clubber Lang and regains his world title.

In the third round, Lang (who is used to winning fights swiftly with knockouts in the early rounds) becomes increasingly angry and quickly exhausts his energy trying to finish Rocky off with repeated knockout blows, most of which miss the newly-agile Rocky. Rocky taunts the champion in order to psych him out, and the aggressive Lang is infuriated. He attacks even harder, walking into Rocky’s trap. The tide turns, and Rocky overpowers the winded and outboxed Lang, knocking him out and re-gaining the heavyweight championship of the world.

Rocky and Apollo both throw punches at the same time to start the third fight.

Afterwards, Rocky fulfils Apollo’s vague «big favour»: a private rematch with him at Mick’s old gym. The film concludes with the fighters throwing their first punch simultaneously, but this time, after the two massive bouts between them previously, this fight is purely for pride and they fight in the spirit of friendly competition rather than as fierce rivals.

Rocky IV: East vs. West

In 1985, Ivan Drago, an immensely muscular 6-foot 5, 261-pound Soviet boxer, arrives in the United States with his wife Ludmilla, and a team of trainers from the USSR and Cuba. His manager, Nicolai Koloff, takes every opportunity to promote Drago’s athleticism as a hallmark of Soviet superiority. Motivated by patriotism and an innate desire to prove himself, Apollo Creed challenges Drago to an exhibition bout. Rocky has reservations, but agrees to train Apollo despite his misgivings about the fight. He asks Apollo whether the fight is against the Russian, or «you against you».

During a press conference regarding the match, hostility is created between Apollo and Drago’s respective camps. The exhibition takes place at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Apollo enters the ring, wearing his old Uncle Sam outfit, in an over-the-top patriotic entrance with James Brown performing «Living in America» complete with showgirls. The bout starts tamely with Apollo landing several punches that have no effect on the Russian. It soon turns serious though, as Drago starts clobbering hard. Apollo is worn by the end of the first round. Rocky and Apollo’s trainer Duke plead with him to give up, but Apollo refuses to do so, and tells Rocky to promise him not to stop the fight no matter what. The second round doesn’t go any better, and despite Duke begging Rocky to throw in the towel, he reluctantly honours Apollo’s wish. To his ever-lasting regret, this turns out to have fatal consequences as Drago lands a final punch on Apollo that knocks him to the ground, killing him.

Rocky holds a dying Apollo Creed.

In the immediate aftermath, Drago displays no sense of remorse commenting to the assembled media: «If he dies… he dies.» Rocky gave the eulogy at his funeral, he didn’t lose a best friend. He lost his brother figure and he thanked him for making him the greater fighter he was.

Incensed by Drago’s cold indifference and feeling a deep sense of guilt, Rocky decides to avenge Apollo’s death by agreeing to fight Drago in Russia on Christmas Day in a 15-round bout. As the match is unsanctioned, he is required to forfeit the title. He flies to the USSR without Adrian, setting up his training base in Krasnogourbinsk with only Duke and brother-in-law Paulie to accompany him. To prepare for the fight, Drago uses very high-tech equipment, steroid enhancement, and a team of trainers and doctors monitoring his every movement. Rocky, on the other hand, throws heavy logs, chops down trees, pulls an overloaded snow sleigh, jogs in heavy snow and treacherous icy conditions and climbs a mountain. Adrian shows up unexpectedly to give Rocky her support after initially refusing to travel to Russia because of her doubts on his fighting chances. Her arrival increases Rocky’s focus and enhances his training.

Drago and Rocky square off before their fight.

Drago is introduced with an elaborate, patriotic ceremony that puts the Russian crowd squarely on Drago’s side. Rocky turns up more muscular and confident than ever, but is booed by all in attendance. In contrast to his fight with Apollo, Drago immediately goes on the offensive and Rocky takes a fierce pounding. Rocky comes back toward the end of the second and silences the Russian crowd by landing a strong right hook that cuts Drago just below his left eye. While Drago is visibly shaken, Rocky is fired up and assaults Drago, which continues even after the bell rings. While Duke and Paulie cheer Rocky for his heroism, they remind him that Drago is not a machine, but a man. Ironically, Drago comments that Rocky «is not human, he is like a piece of iron» with his own corner reprimanding him for being «weak» in comparison to the «small American.»

Rocky punching Drago.

The two boxers continue to hit each other over the next dozen rounds, with Rocky holding his ground despite Drago’s powerful punches. His resilience rallies the previously hostile Soviet crowd to his side, which unsettles Drago to the point that he shoves Koloff off the ring for berating his performance. Rocky finally takes out Drago in the 15th and last round, winning by knockout to the shock of the Soviet Politburo members watching the fight.

Rocky defeats Ivan Drago.

A bloody and battered Rocky gives a victory speech that’s translated to Russian, acknowledging the mutual disdain at first between himself and the crowd. He says it is like the wider disdain between Russians and Americans, but that he and the crowd have come to respect and admire each other during the course of the fight. Rocky adds that the crowd has seen «two guys killin’ each other, but I guess that’s better than 20 million». Rocky finally declares, «If I can change, and you can change, then everybody can change!» The Soviet General Secretary stands and passionately applauds Rocky, and his aides follow suit. Rocky ends his speech by wishing his son a Merry Christmas, and throws his arms into the air in victory as the crowd applauds on Christmas Day.

Shortly after his bout with Ivan Drago, Rocky realizes while he is showering that he may have sustained some type of injury during the fight. His hands tremble relentlessly, and he tells Adrian that he is tired and wants to go home, but accidentally addresses her as Mickey.

Rocky answering questions at the press conference.

Rocky V: Retirement and Return to South Philadelphia

The year is now 1986, and at the press conference held at the airport upon returning home, a flamboyant promoter named George Washington Duke showed up and challenged Rocky to fight Duke’s protege, Union Cane who had been challenging to become the new heavyweight champion. Rocky, however, easily blew off the challenge and headed back home with his family, not interested in gaining back the title he vacated to fight Drago at that time.^[2]

That evening, Robert overheard an argument between Adrian and Paulie. It turned out that during their stay in Russia, Paulie had been tricked to inadvertently give power of attorney to the Balboas’ shady accountant, who then disappeared with their fortune when the accountant duped Rocky and Paulie to sign a tax extension, but it wasn’t a tax extension it was power of attorney. Rocky’s accountant embezzled his fortune and had invested it in a real estate scheme that had crashed, which he hoped that he could make quick cash and cover his track by using his expected profit to pay back to Rocky’s family. He lost a lot of money on that investment and made Rocky broke. The family’s lawyer also revealed that he had filed 8 criminal acts against the accountant but their mortgage was not entirely paid off, and that Rocky still owed six years of back taxes because of the accountant. The family’s lawyer had a solution, if he accepted the fight against Union Cane, the ticket money from the event will enable him to be out of this debt no time. Adrian didn’t want him to fight again, but Rocky refused and is considering called Duke to schedule a fight against Union Cane. That would get his fortune back. But Adrian stopped him and asked him to see a doctor first. Rocky refused, but decided to go through with it for Adrian. There was bad news from the doctor, as he confirmed that Rocky was suffering from Cavum septum pellucidum, a condition common to boxers who take too many hard hits to the head. Now coming to grips with the fact another fight would mean certain death, not to mention against a skilled ranked heavyweight like Cane, Rocky publicised his retirement, effectively ending his fighting career. The announcement of Rocky’s official retirement made headlines. Rocky declared himself bankrupt leading to his mansion and almost all of his possessions being repossessed, leaving him and his family broke. The only asset remaining was Mighty Mick’s Gym, which had been willed to Rocky by Mickey thereby keeping it safe from the accountant. ^[2]

Rocky moving back into his old home.

Luckily, Paulie had kept his old home in South Philadelphia, the family packed up and moved back into the modest home. Rocky assured Adrian that the move would only be temporary. Some time later, Rocky reopened Mickey’s old gym, Mighty Mick’s Gym, as a means of income.

He was soon approached by a young fighter named Tommy Gunn, as Washington Duke continued to hound him to fight Union Cane for one last «pay day». Tommy came from Oklahoma, and was eager to meet Rocky, with the intent of showing him how good of a fighter he was and hoped Rocky would become his manager after seeing him in action. At first, Rocky was unsure about the idea, not considering himself manager material, but he eventually began to see his younger self in Tommy, and feeling he could pass on some of Mickey’s teachings to Tommy, he not only accepted to become his manager, but also offered him to stay with his family. Tommy could have helped Rocky get his fortune back if Rocky leads him to the heavy title. Starting then, Rocky began to relive the older days; he was Mick, and Tommy was Rocky, and since he had to retire, he felt that through Tommy, he would feel like he would win again, feel in his prime again.^[2] This unfortunately had a bad side effect, as Rocky became so focused on his role as Tommy’s manager, and Tommy himself, that he began to neglect his son, rapidly severing the bond between the two. That bond would be rekindled later.

Rocky passing on his famous boxing shorts to Gunn.

The more Tommy fought, the more he became famous, but all for the wrong reasons. If the media referred to Tommy, it was indirectly through Rocky (i.e. «Rocky’s Gunn aims at the title!»), and Tommy became frustrated for being trapped in Rocky’s shadow. George Washington Duke tempted him with promises of fame and riches, and Tommy aligned himself with him instead of Rocky. Tommy dumped Rocky as his manager for Duke. He was also given a chance at the title, something he wanted very eagerly. During the match between Union Cane and Tommy, Rocky watched the match through television rather excitedly, cheering him on and even punching his punching bag in symmetry with Tommy’s punches.

Tommy punching Union Cane.

Cane had an early lead, and almost knocked Tommy down, but Tommy made a sudden comeback toward the end of the round, and knocked Cane out. After Tommy won the match, Rocky literally screamed and jumped in joy, and when Tommy was about to thank the man whom he described as the one that got him there, and Rocky smiled as he knew he was talking about him, or so he thought. Hearing Tommy give all the credits to Duke and thank him for everything, followed by the crowd showing great displeasure towards Tommy, and praising Rocky instead, while on his end, Rocky lost all the excitement and his smile from the event, and after his son tried to comfort him, Paulie asked him to go out with him to take his mind out of all of this.

After being insulted by the media in comparison to Rocky, they told Tommy that Cane was a paper champion that he never won the belt from Rocky. He never fought a real champion and his frustration and rage fuelled by Duke in his scheme to get Tommy to taunt Rocky into a ring, they both went to look for Rocky in town with the press and the camera crew, and after finding him, began taunting him into fighting him in a ring; Tommy, however, vented off his anger at Rocky, the very man who trained him to become the fighter that he is and the one who genuinely cared for him, who was prepared to ignore him until Paulie began criticising Tommy. The new champion’s response was to punch Paulie down, resulting in an angered Rocky to challenge him into trying to knock him down now. Duke tried to stop the imminent fight by saying that Tommy would only fight in the ring. Rocky followed by saying, «My ring’s outside.» This triggered a street fight between the two former friends.

Surrounded by a crowd, which was entirely on Rocky’s side, Rocky took the initiative by punching Tommy down, then expressed his disappointment in how they should’ve been friends, like brothers, two fingers of the same hand, and walked off. However, Tommy got back up and attacked Rocky from behind. A few of the crowd attempted to help Rocky out of this back attack, resulting in them being punched out by a wild Tommy. After taking a brief beating from Tommy, Rocky began having flashbacks of his horrifying fight with Ivan Drago, and lost his focus almost completely over what was happening until he began having flashbacks of Mickey instead, with the words, «Get up and fight, you son-of-a-bitch, ’cause Mickey loves ya!» echoing through his head.

Rocky after the street fight with Tommy.

Completely rejuvenated, Rocky got back on his feet, and taunted Tommy into fighting «one more round» with him. Cheered on by the crowd, which now included his wife and son, Rocky eventually knocked his former pupil out.^[2] Duke dumped Tommy Gunn and strip him from the title when he lost that street fight against Rocky. He then approached Duke, who threatened to sue him should he lay a finger on him, but Rocky knocked him down with an uppercut and nonchalantly asked him, «Sue me for what?» Since he is broke.

Easing back into retirement

Rocky completely moved on from the boxing world after the Tommy Gunn incident, and in 1995, opened a small but successful restaurant named Adrian’s, after his beloved wife. The walls of the place were adorned with several family photos as well as magazine covers and pictures from throughout Rocky’s fighting career. The patrons loved it when Rocky would visit their table and tell them stories about his past fights.^[3]

Rocky’s world came crashing down in 2002 when Adrian succumbed to ovarian cancer. Every year afterward, on the anniversary of her death, Rocky would visit Adrian’s grave and tour all of the places (Rocky’s old apartment, the site of the old skating rink and J&M Tropical Fish, the pet store where Adrian worked for years) that held some significance to them.^[3]

By early 2005, Rocky was pushing 60 and living out his days mainly focusing on his restaurant, he is no longer broke and doing a lot of better than he is now. He was content with the modest life he’d been living for the past nineteen years, and he continued to be recognised on the streets and received friendly greetings from fellow Philadelphians. He even managed to reconnect with a woman named Marie, who, as a young girl, Rocky had saved from going down the wrong path in life.^[3]

Rocky Balboa: The Final Round

Mason Dixon.

In early 2006, Rocky Balboa, now 59,^[4] has been retired from boxing for twenty years and lives a quiet life as a widower. His wife Adrian Pennino Balboa had died from cancer four years earlier. Adrian’s is still very successful, where he regales his patrons with stories of his past. He is still a big shot celebrity and Philadelphians have never forgotten him wherever he goes. He also battles personal demons involving his grief over Adrian’s death, the changing times, and his eroding relationship with his son Robert, a struggling corporate employee. Although it’s not shown outside the ring, Rocky still battles some level of PTSD from his fight with Drago twenty-one years prior, having flashes of the brutal punches and injury he sustained from the Soviet fighter. Paulie Pennino, Rocky’s brother-in-law and best friend, continues to support him whenever he can, and they still love together for the moment. Paulie had also went back to his old job at Shamrock Meat.

Late one night, Rocky reunites with a much older «Little» Marie, a once mischievous neighbourhood girl that Rocky met when she was a child, now working as a bartender at the Lucky Seven (a bar Rocky once frequented in the mid-1970s), and a single parent of a teenage son born out of wedlock: Stephenson, nicknamed «Steps». Rocky’s friendship with the two quickly blossoms over the following weeks, and Steps takes to him as a father figure.

Meanwhile on the professional boxing circuit, Mason «The Line» Dixon reigns as the undisputed world heavyweight champion. ESPN broadcasts a computer simulation of a fight between Rocky (in his prime) and Mason — likened to a modern-day version of The Super Fight, a 1970 computer simulation of a 15-round fight between Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali in their prime (that Marciano «won» by a KO in the 13th round) — which ends in a controversial KO victory for Balboa, riling the champ. In contrast, the simulation inspires Rocky to take up boxing again — an intention that goes public when he successfully renews his license. Dixon’s promoters pitch the idea of holding a charity exhibition bout at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas to bolster Dixon’s falling popularity. Rocky was reluctant at first, when they came to his restaurant and offered him the proposition. But talking to Marie, he decided to go for it and take that exhibition fight. Rocky became a bigger celebrity and was offered a lot of endorsement deals with that fight thanks to Paulie.

With some hesitation, both men agree to the match, creating a media buzz that stabs at Rocky’s has-been status and Dixon’s credibility; Dixon having yet to face a challenging opponent. Robert later makes an effort to discourage Rocky from fighting, blaming his own personal failings on his father’s celebrity shadow, but Rocky rebukes him with some advice: that to succeed in life, «it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward», and that blaming others won’t help him. The next day, father and son meet over Adrian’s grave and reconcile; Robert has quit his job to be at Rocky’s side. Rocky sets straight to training with Apollo Creed’s old trainer Duke who quickly surmises that the slow and arthritic Rocky can only compete by building his strength and punching power as much as possible.

Rocky fighting Dixon.

The fight becomes an HBO pay-per-view event. Dixon easily dominates the first round only to injure his left hand against Rocky’s hip in the second, after which Rocky makes a dramatic comeback: he manages to knock Dixon down once and then continues to surprise the audience with his prowess and chin against the much younger and faster fighter. Dixon sends Rocky to one knee in the final round, but the elder fighter pulls himself to his feet for one last assault. The two opponents then continue to punish each other severely throughout the remainder of the final round, ending with the two fighters both still standing. Rocky thanks an appreciative Dixon for the fight and leaves the ring to the adulation of the crowd as the result is announced: A win for Mason Dixon by split decision. The fans still cheered for Rocky and he became a bigger celebrity for going the distance against Dixon. He finally got a chance to say goodbye to boxing for good. He never had a chance to back then after fighting against Ivan Drago.

In the closing shot, Rocky returns home and visits Adrian’s grave again; thanking her for helping him.

Creed: Training Adonis Johnson Creed

Rocky training Adonis.

Nine years after the Mason Dixon fight, Rocky still lived a quiet life in a nicer house back in upper-class Philadelphia. Adonis Johnson Creed never knew his famous father, World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood. After arriving from Los Angeles, Donnie tracks down Rocky at Adrian’s just before closing time and asks Rocky to become his trainer. Rocky is reluctant to get back into boxing, having already made a one-off comeback at a very advanced age despite having suffered brain trauma during his career as a fighter. One reason why he doesn’t want to manage Adonis Creed, is because of Tommy Gunn, where George Washington Duke stole his prize pupil from him. He can also immediately tell just by the way Donnie talks is that the young man has a higher education, and doesn’t get why he wants to be a boxer when he really doesn’t have to. However, Rocky still feels guilt about Apollo’s death, and seeing that the son is determined to box decides that he will train Donnie the very best he can, as his knowledge will help keep the young man safe in the ring. On November 19, after Donnie has been training solo at Mighty Mick’s Gym for some time (using drills he got Rocky to write out for him), Rocky drops by after visiting Paulie’s and Adrian’s graves for Paulie’s birthday. Rocky finally agrees to train him under the condition that Donnie gives his all and oversees his basics. He also has him on runs outdoors, and just as Mickey did, catching chickens.

Balboa allows Donnie, now known as «Hollywood Donnie,» to fight against Leo «The Lion» Sporino in six weeks, a local fighter who’s the son of Mighty Mick’s manager Pete Sporino, a childhood friend of Rocky’s. As Leo is already a fighter at Mick’s, Balboa moves Donnie to train at the Front Street Gym in north Philadelphia, with several of his longtime friends, and agrees to have Donnie move into his home. On the day of the fight, Pete confronts Rocky, not pleased to have uncovered through calls to LA that Donnie is a Creed, and Rocky asks him to keep it quiet. However, after Donnie wins, word gets out «anonymously» the next day that he is Creed’s illegitimate son.

Rocky gets a call from the trainer/manager of IBF, IBO, WBO and the Lineal light heavyweight champion «Pretty» Ricky Conlan, who is due to be forced into retirement by an impending prison term. In a meeting at Adrian’s, he offers Donnie to be Conlan’s final challenger—provided that he change his name to Adonis «Hollywood Donnie» Creed. Donnie balks at first, wanting to forge his own legacy, and Conlan’s trainer leaves the offer on the table for 24 hours so Donnie can think about it. Rocky gives his support to whatever decision Donnie makes, but can see that he’s interested. After asking Rocky about the factual disadvantages of fighting someone bigger and more experienced, let alone the champion, Donnie decides he can do it only because his trainer is Rocky Balboa.

Adonis shadow boxing while Rocky undergoes chemotherapy.

While helping Donnie train, Rocky collapses, and from hospital tests learns he has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is unwilling to undergo chemotherapy, remembering that it was not enough to save Adrian when she had ovarian cancer although he is told that cancer treatment has improved since Adrian’s passing. His diagnosis and the fact that his best friend and brother-in-law Paulie Pennino, Adrian’s brother, has now passed away in addition to Adrian, Apollo, and his old trainer Mickey Goldmill further force him to confront his own mortality. Seeing Rocky shaken, Donnie urges him to seek treatment; as long as Rocky agrees to fight his cancer, Donnie will train for the fight, and Rocky agrees. Donnie trains at the hospital and the gym, in addition to assisting the weakened Rocky at home and going over fight strategies.

Rocky prepares Adonis for the fight.

Donnie fights Conlan at Goodison Park in Conlan’s hometown of Liverpool, and many parallels emerge between Apollo and Rocky’s first fight forty years earlier. First, before going into the ring, Donnie receives a present from Mary Anne — new American flag trunks similar to the ones Apollo and later Rocky wore. Additionally, to the surprise of nearly everyone, Donnie goes the distance after giving Conlan all he can handle. Conlan wins on a split decision (just as Apollo retained his title by split decision against Rocky), but Donnie has won the respect of Conlan and the crowd.

Rocky motivating Adonis just before the final round.

As Jim Lampley puts it while calling the fight for HBO, «Conlan won the fight, but Creed won the night.» Conlan tells Donnie that he is the future of the light heavyweight division, and to wear the Creed name with pride.

The film ends with Donnie and a frail but improving Rocky climbing the «Rocky Steps» at the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Creed 2: Facing his nemesis again

Adonis knocks out Danny Wheeler.

Following the events of Creed (Creed II), Adonis won a knockout victory at light-heavyweight before moving up to cruiserweight where he won four consecutive knockouts. He then moved up to heavyweight where he won a title eliminator by knockout, earning himself a shot against the heavyweight champion, Danny Wheeler. Adonis defeated Wheeler via a 4th round KO to become the new WBC World Heavyweight Champion.

Upon winning the championship, Adonis decides it’s the right time to propose to Bianca Taylor (Adonis’ longtime girlfriend). Adonis seeks advice from Rocky, but it doesn’t seem to help his nerves. Finally, Adonis pops the question to Bianca in the hotel room, and she says yes. Bianca suggests to Adonis that they could start a new life in Los Angeles, begin building their family. Adonis is reluctant at first, not wanting to leave Rocky behind, but he agrees to think about it.

Viktor Drago (Ivan Drago’s son) had been dominating the Heavyweight Division in Ukraine, stringing together several knockout victories before deciding to arrive in the United States and challenge Adonis thanks to the promoter Buddy Marcelle. Adonis infuriated visits Rocky’s home in the middle of the night and tells him that he needs to take the fight. Rocky urges him not to take the fight; Balboa feared that what happened thirty-three years ago would happen again. Adonis becomes upset that Balboa doesn’t think he can win and gives Rocky an ultimatum that he will take the fight with or without Rocky, who declines. Adonis and Bianca Taylor head to Los Angeles where they buy a spacious apartment and then visit Mary Anne Creed. Not long later, it is revealed that Bianca is pregnant.

Adonis is knocked out by Viktor Drago.

Adonis trains under the wing of Little Duke in the high tech gym. Adonis overwhelmed, rushes into the fight and gets seriously injured. Viktor Drago pummels him over three rounds, breaking his orbital bone, ribs, rupturing his kidney and giving him a Grade A concussion. However, despite the domination, Adonis wins the fight by disqualification because Viktor punched him when he was down on one knee, knocking him out.

Later, Mary Anne reaches out to Rocky, who comes out west to reconcile with Adonis. Bianca goes into labour and gives birth to a healthy baby girl named Amara Creed, and Adonis makes Rocky her godfather. However, Adonis and Bianca’s fears are realised when the child is born with progressive hearing loss, with Amara now in his life, Adonis comes to terms with the fact that he needs to be more open with the people closest to him. He also comes to terms that he has to fight Viktor again, and win. He promises to be there for his family but asks them to be there for him.

Rocky trains Adonis in the desert.

Rocky and Little Duke take Adonis to the desert to rigorously train his body from within to prepare for the fight, while Mary Anne, Bianca, and Amara provide a stable support system. In the desert, Balboa and Little Duke prepare Adonis’s body to be able to take extreme amounts of force and damage, preparing him for Viktor’s powerful and deadly strikes.

Adonis knocks out Viktor Drago.

In the second fight, Adonis is more accustomed to Viktor Drago by fighting more comfortably in close range, and due to his sessions training his body to absorb substantial impact repeatedly he is able to withstand Viktor’s deadly strikes. Viktor has never had to fight past the 4th round, and while Viktor is winning on points, Adonis uses his stamina to his advantage later in the fight despite having his ribs broken again. After a knockdown in the 10th round, Adonis unleashes a furious rage on Viktor, knocking him down twice and forcing Ivan Drago to throw in the towel to protect his son. At the end of the fight, Rocky tells Adonis that this is his journey now, hugging him, and giving his farewell.

Adonis, having retained the title, visits Apollo’s grave with Bianca Taylor and Amara Creed, where he makes peace with his dad for carrying on his legacy while also building his own. Meanwhile, Rocky finally visits his son and grandson in Vancouver.

Boxing style

Although Rocky is a southpaw, he will often switch stances and fight right-handed. He’s a hybrid-fighter, possessing the qualities of an inside-fighter, brawler and swarmer. With the exception of his rematch against Clubber Lang where he fights as an outside-fighter, he advances quickly upon his opponents, driving them into the ropes and setting upon them with a devastating body attack. Rocky is well known for wearing opponents down over the course of a bout.

Balboa’s iron jaw allows him to take brutal punishment throughout his fights. With a will of steel, he is known for overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to triumph over his opponents. It is this trait that inspires fans worldwide, sending the message that nothing is out of reach if one believes in himself. Balboa, as stated by Jim Lampley during the fight against Mason Dixon, is renowned for his «cast iron jaw, ferocious body attack, and will of steel». All of these traits carried him to victories over the years against physically superior opponents. Rocky has an uncanny ability to sense weakness in his opponents, seizing every opportunity to capitalise on a momentum shift in his fights. No matter how exhausted and battered, Balboa pushes his offensive edge. In the first title fight with Apollo Creed, announcer Stu Nahan refers to Rocky as a «bull in a china shop» after witnessing the offensive onslaught.

Rocky retired as a 2 time world heavyweight champion and with a pro record of 57 wins, 23 losses and 1 draw with 54 wins by knockout.^[3]

The fight scenes in the last movie, Rocky Balboa, are considered to be the most realistic in film history, with many boxing experts considering Stallone’s in-ring performance to be his best ever.

Notable quotes

«Ah come on, Adrian, it’s true. I was nobody. But that don’t matter either, you know? ‘Cause I was thinkin’, it really don’t matter if I lose this fight. It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head, either. ‘Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I’m still standin’, I’m gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren’t just another bum from the neighbourhood.» Rocky
«What did you say to the kid? It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. Get up!» Rocky Balboa
You ain’t gonna believe this, but you used to fit right here, I’d hold you up to say to your mother, «this kid’s gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid’s gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew.» And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilege. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you’re no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! Rocky Balboa

Skills and Attributes

Iron Jaw: Rocky is known for his iron jaw.
Speed: Rocky gains dominating speed he demonstrates in Rocky III.
Power: Rocky is capable of brutally attacking his opponents in the ring.
Indomitable will: Rocky never gives up a fight unless knocked out or dazed to a point where he can’t recover before the count.

Boxing Attires

Rocky in The Superfight II, the rematch against Apollo Creed, with the first Italian Stallion costume (black and gold) seen in Rocky II.

Rocky’s costume against Thunderlips, the second Italian Stallion costume (gold and black) seen in Rocky III.

Rocky’s regular costume in Rocky III, the second Italian Stallion costume (gold and black) against Clubber Lang in the first fight.

Rocky in the rematch against Clubber Lang using the American costume, a present from Apollo Creed, his new trainer in Rocky III.

Rocky wearing the first Italian Stallion costume (black and gold) with a protector for the 3rd fight against Apollo Creed, seen in Rocky III.

Rocky using the American costume in the fight against Ivan Drago, a tribute for Apollo Creed’s death and a representation of USA in the second fight East vs. West, seen in Rocky IV.

Rocky in the fight Skill vs. Will against Mason Dixon, 20 years later after his retirement, using black and gold colors, seen in the Rocky Balboa film.

Appearances

Rocky (First appearance)
Rocky II
Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky V
Rocky Balboa
Creed
Creed II
Rocky novelisation
Rocky II novelisation
Rocky III novelisation
Rocky IV novelisation
Rocky (1987 Video Game)
Rocky video game
Rocky: Legends
Ivan Drago: Justice Enforcer

(Non-canonical appearance)

Trivia

Rocky was a smoker. He gave up the habit when he began his training regiment for Superfight 1. He relapsed back in Rocky V, but he gave it up for good when he trained Tommy Gunn.
Though he fights as a southpaw, Rocky writes with his right hand.
His car’s registration plate reads «S0THPAW.»
Rocky wears black and gold because those were the same colours of the high school he never graduated from.
Though he is responsible for the popularisation of the red, white and blue trunks in popular culture, Balboa wore a combination of black and gold for the majority of his career, including the rematch with Apollo Creed. The red, white and blue trunks were — in fact — a present from Creed for the rematch against Lang, and a tribute following his death.
Authorities in the Serbian village of Žitište have built a monument to Rocky.
Rocky had defeated 3 previously undefeated fighters: Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, and Tommy Gunn, though the fight against Tommy Gunn wasn’t official.
Rocky was mentioned in Mims’ song Like This.
Although it is common knowledge that the screenplay for the first movie was the Ali/Wepner fight, Rocky the character is probably a combination of Rocky Marciano, Jake LaMotta, and Joe Fraizer.
Rocky was on The Muppet Show.
Rocky was originally meant to die in Rocky V where he would have lost the street fight and died as a result of Tommy Gunn’s punches and the brain damage, dying in Adrian’s arms.
In real life the Rocky Statue is still in the Philadelphia Museum of Art next to the Rocky Steps. In the movie it was taken out in Rocky Balboa, since Rocky’s retirement lasted for 20 years, but it returned after Rocky’s fight with Mason Dixon, for it’s seen in Creed.
Sylvester Stallone got the idea of Rocky Balboa from the Chuck Wepner and Muhammad Ali fight. Wepner lasted until the fifteenth round against a famous fighter like Ali and knocked him down in one round.

Fights

Before the movies (1966-1975)

43-21 (38 KO)

During the movies

Rocky (1975-1976)

1975: Spider Rico-Winner by KO in Round 2 of 8 (43-21) 38 KO

1975: Dipper Brown-(Informal match, Rocky won)

1976: Apollo Creed-Loss by Split Decision of 15 Rounds (For Heavyweight Title; 43-22) 38 KO

Rocky II (1976)

1976: Apollo Creed-Winner by KO in Round 15 of 15 (Won Heavyweight Title; 44-22) 39 KO

Rocky III (1976-1982)

1976: Flip Folsom-Winner by KO in Round 1 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 45-22) 40 KO

1977: Dave Fossan-Winner by TKO in Round 2 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 46-22) 41 KO

1977: Ernie Roman-Winner by KO in Round 3 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 47-22) 42 KO

1978: Mac Lee Green-Winner by TKO in Round 6 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 48-22) 43 KO

1978: Vito Soto-Winner by KO in Round 6 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 49-22) 44 KO

1979: Big Yank Ball-Winner by KO in Round 5 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 50-22) 45 KO

1979: Joe Czak-Winner by KO in Round 2 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 51-22) 46 KO

1980: Philip Hammerman-Winner by TKO in Round 2 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 52-22) 47 KO

1980: Billy Snow-Winner by TKO in Round 10 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 53-22) 48 KO

1981: Big Chuck Smith-Winner by KO in Round 8 of 15 (Retained Heavyweight Title; 54-22) 49 KO

1981: ”Thunderlips»-Draw of 1 Round (Exhibition fight; 54-22-1) 49 KO

1981: James «Clubber» Lang-Loss by KO in Round 2 of 15 (Lost Heavyweight Title; 54-23-1) 49 KO

1982: James «Clubber» Lang-Winner by KO in Round 3 of 15 (Won Heavyweight Title; 55-23-1) 50 KO

1982: Apollo Creed-(Informal match, Rocky later claims Apollo won the fight)

Rocky IV (1985)

1985: Ivan Drago-Winner by KO in Round 15 of 15 (56-23-1) 51 KO

Rocky V (1985-1986)

1986: Tommy Gunn-(Street fight, Rocky won)

Rocky Balboa (2006)

2006: Mason Dixon-Loss by Split Decision of 10 Rounds (57-23-1) 50 KO

External links

Report on Rocky 6 and comparison to Rocky Marciano
AUDIO: Sylvester Stallone on boxing and faith
Statue Photo of Rocky Balboa statue at Philadelphia Museum.

References

↑ He has the same birth month as Sylvester Stallone, and according to Rocky Legends, and the first film, Rocky was 30 in 1975, and second film, Rocky was 31 in 1976.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Rocky V
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Rocky Balboa
↑ Rocky Balboa (video game)

Источник

РОККИ БАЛЬБОА

Русско-английский перевод РОККИ БАЛЬБОА

Rocky Balboa

Русско-Американский Английский словарь.

Russian-American English dictionary .
2012

Источник

Бесплатный переводчик онлайн с английского на русский

Хотите общаться в чатах с собеседниками со всего мира, понимать, о чем поет Билли Айлиш, читать английские сайты на русском? PROMT.One мгновенно переведет ваш текст с английского на русский и еще на 20+ языков.

Точный перевод с транскрипцией

С помощью PROMT.One наслаждайтесь точным переводом с английского на русский, а для слов и фраз смотрите английскую транскрипцию, произношение и варианты переводов с примерами употребления в разных контекстах. Бесплатный онлайн-переводчик PROMT.One — достойная альтернатива Google Translate и другим сервисам, предоставляющим перевод с английского на русский и с русского на английский.

Нужно больше языков?

PROMT.One бесплатно переводит онлайн с английского на азербайджанский, арабский, греческий, иврит, испанский, итальянский, казахский, китайский, корейский, немецкий, португальский, татарский, турецкий, туркменский, узбекский, украинский, финский, французский, эстонский и японский.

Источник

Robert «Rocky» Balboa (born 6 July 1945), nicknamed The Italian Stallion, was an Italian-American professional boxer, restaurant owner, and boxing trainer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became famous on 1 January 1976 after becoming the first boxer to be able to stand up to the heavyweight world champion Apollo Creed for 15 rounds; in a rematch later that year, Balboa defeated Creed by knockout, and he retained the title of world heavyweight champion until Clubber Lang defeated him by knockout in 1981. In 1982, he won a rematch against Lang and reclaimed the title of world champion, defeating Soviet World Amateur Champion Ivan Drago in 1985. He retired that same year, although he returned to the media spotlight after beating his former protégé Tommy Gunn in a highly-publicized street fight in 1986. After the death of his wife in 2002, Balboa opened a restaurant named in her honor, «Adrian’s», and, in 2006, he briefly came out of retirement for an exhibition match against Mason Dixon, which Dixon won, although Balboa was able to again prove to the world that he was no joke. In 2015, he served as trainer to Apollo Creed’s son Adonis Creed, creating a new and loyal protégé.

Biography

Early life

Balboa as a child

Robert Balboa was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 6 July 1945, the only child in a working-class, Catholic Italian-American family. Balboa was raised in South Philadelphia, and he learned to understand Italian from his family, although he only spoke English. Balboa attended church and, after he owned his own apartment, he hung a crucifix at his house. During his childhood, Balboa was told by his father that he was not born with the sharpest brain, so he would have to use his body to make his way in life. This encouraged Balboa to take up boxing, and he assumed the ring name «Rocky» after his idol, Rocky Marciano.

Club fighting career

Rocky and Tony Gazzo in 1975

Balboa fought in amateur club fights while working on the side as a loan collector for Philadelphia crime family loanshark Tony Gazzo; his club fights were often low-paying and infrequent. On 25 November 1975, he defeated Spider Rico in a match at Kensington, but, after being taxed by the club, his winnings were just $40. A day later, Gazzo had him collect $200 from Bob Hartigan, but Balboa refused to break Hartigan’s thumbs on Gazzo’s instructions when Hartigan gave him just $130.

Balboa later got lucky when world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visited Philadelphia ahead of the Bicentennial celebrations, intending on setting up an exhibition match between him and a struggling boxer to give a «nobody» a chance to become a «somebody», mirroring the American Dream and the spirit of the celebrations. He chose Balboa, nicknamed «the Italian Stallion», as he remembered how Christopher Columbus was also an Italian who contributed greatly to America. Balboa did not know that Creed intended to have a one-sided fight, but he decided to train, and his former gym trainer Mickey Goldmill — who had recently evicted Balboa from his gym after six years due to his troublesome activities and his «apeish» fighting style — convinced Balboa to allow him to train him for the fight.

Balboa vs. Creed

Balboa began training with Goldmill, and, at the same time, he began dating Adrian Pennino, the younger sister of his drinking buddy Paulie Pennino, and an employee at a pet store which he frequented. The two of them provided moral support for each other, and Balboa decided that, even if he did not win against Creed, he would want to go the distance. Balboa undertook intense training with Goldmill, even famously running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and celebrating upon reaching the top, having finally increased his speed and become prepared for the fight.

On 1 January 1976, Balboa had his fight with Creed at the Philadelphia Spectrum in a highly-televised event. In the first round, Creed was knocked down for the first time in his life, and Creed retaliated by breaking Rocky’s nose. Creed realized that, while Rocky did not have his skill, he had powerful punches. Balboa survived several intense rounds, and, in the 14th round, Balboa broke Creed’s ribs right before the round ended. Balboa survived all fifteen rounds, impressing everyone, but Creed won by split decision.

Both combatants agreed that there would be no rematch, but Balboa was seen by some as the true winner, as he was able to survive all fifteen rounds against the world champion.

Источник