Top 10 Fights From the Rocky/Creed Franchise

#10: Rocky vs. Clubber Lang

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“Rocky III” (1982) While Rocky is enjoying the fruits of being the reigning heavyweight champ, the undefeated Clubber Lang goads the hero into a fight. The resulting fight is one of the most brutal in the franchise. During the bout, the two boxers seem to forget how to block and just keep trading devastating punches. But as the match goes on, it becomes clear that Clubber Lang will dominate the fight. This violent bout served as an extremely harsh wake up call for the Italian Stallion. Although he ended up losing in the second round after getting hit with one last Lang punch, we were ready and willing to see Rocky get back in the ring to earn some redemption.

“Creed II” (2018) When Adonis promised to give his Mustang to anyone who could beat him, Danny Wheeler entered the ring and absolutely embarrassed Creed in a swift yet enjoyable match. The two didn’t meet up for another on-screen fight until the sequel. Not only did the rematch determine who would be heavyweight champion, but it also determined the fate of Creed’s mustang. It was great watching Adonis prove he was a much better fighter by shaking off Wheeler’s hardest hits. As Creed started to gain ground, we got to our feet. Seeing Adonis finally win his Mustang…oh and the belt, of course was incredibly satisfying.

“Rocky IV” (1985) The once great Apollo aimed to prove his worth to the world by defeating the gigantic Ivan Drago. While Creed begins the bout by showing off his agility and having fun, the match gets darker as soon as his opponent gets serious. Apollo gets pummeled so hard that his friend Rocky begs him to just throw in the towel. But after Creed insists on getting back in the ring, he is killed during the fight. This incredibly tragic exhibition match established Drago as the most fearsome antagonist in the franchise to date. As an added bonus, the result of this fight single handedly opened the door for Adonis Creed to continue the franchise.

“Creed” (2015) It’s impossible to look away from this pivotal clash for a moment because it was all shot in one breathtaking take. Astonishingly, viewers actually get to watch Michael. B. Jordan’s Adonis and Gabriel Rosado’s Leo trade blows in real time. The incredibly ambitious camerawork is supported by the film’s stakes. Adonis needs to win this match to prove that he is worthy of fighting amongst the pros. While the hero doesn’t physically dominate his opponent, he’s able to eke out a win by using his head. The scene’s combination of great stakes and cinematography made what could’ve been a typical boxing bout into a gold standard example of how to shoot a fight.

#6: Rocky’s Rematch With Clubber Lang

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Rocky VS Creed

“Rocky III” (1982) There was so much bad blood in the air before this rematch began that a brawl almost erupted before the match officially started. When it came time for them to clash, Rocky came out of the gate with lightning fast jabs that seemed to overwhelm his opponent. But things looked bad when Lang started beating the stuffing out of Balboa. However, in one of the franchise’s greatest twists, it’s revealed that Rocky wanted to take his opponents blows. Watching Balboa become a punching bag as part of a strategy to outlast Lang was absolutely brilliant. Rocky’s astounding toughness and seemingly limitless endurance ultimately allow him to beat Clubber and regain his title.

#4: The Rematch Between Adonis Creed & Viktor Drago

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“Creed II” (2018) Adonis Creed wanted to avenge his father’s death by beating Ivan Drago’s son Viktor. But the American fighter barely manages to survive their first match. When Creed returned for a rematch, he chose to fight for himself instead of going for revenge. The absolutely visceral fight is so well staged that viewers can feel the blows. And although Adonis gets knocked down, he refuses to accept defeat. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Creed withstand earth-shattering hits and strike back with his own hard blows. As the cherry on top of the outstanding fight, Adonis walks away victorious by forcing his enemy to throw in the towel. This bout’s cheerworthy outcome brought Apollo’s journey to a fulfilling end while confirming his son’s legend was just beginning.

“Rocky” (1976) Once his iconic training montage was done, local underdog Rocky took on the heavyweight champ Apollo Creed. Although everyone thought it would be one sided match, everything changed when Balboa knocked his foe down for the first time. This game changing moment just marked the beginning of a fierce slugfest. Rocky shocks the world by going the distance against Apollo and rebounding in every one of their fifteen rounds. This fight became iconic because it represented Rocky’s sheer perseverance and grit. It didn’t even matter that the hero actually lost. Decades later, Creed’s final bout perfectly mirrored this famous matchup by having the hero go the distance but fall short. But the original version still reigns as the more groundbreaking and significant fight.

“Rocky IV” (1985) After watching his friend Apollo die in the ring, Rocky stepped up to defeat the giant who was responsible. Balboa initially gets absolutely wrecked by his huge foe. However, Rocky claws his way back into the fight inch by inch until he manages to injure Drago. From that point on, the bout becomes a brutal battle of iron wills and bodies. The tremendous choreography keeps the fight tense and exciting by letting each fighter shine without giving away who’s ahead. While the Cold War allegory underneath the fight can come off as cheesy for some, everyone can agree that the matchup is incredibly cathartic. Rocky’s unlikely win against a seemingly immovable obstacle reminds us to always keep moving forward. Before we knock out our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Rocky vs. Spider Rico , “Rocky” (1976) The Opening Fight of the Franchise Feels Raw, Brutal & Real Rocky vs. Mason Dixon , “Rocky Balboa” (2006) Our Favorite Fighting Veteran Shows He’s Still Got By Forcing a Split Decision Adonis Creed vs. “Pretty” Ricky Conlan, “Creed” (2015) This Oustanding Final Bout Proved the Fighter & Franchise Had a Bright Future Ahead of Them Rocky vs. Thunderlips, “Rocky III” (1982) An Absolutely Absurd David vs Goliath Matchup That Leaves You Cheering & Laughing Rocky vs. Tommy Gunn, “Rocky V” (1990) A Pure Street Fight Where Rocky Didn’t Hear No Bell

“Rocky II” (1979) Although Rocky was ready to hang up his gloves, Apollo was desperate to show the world he was the best by beating his old foe. The Italian Stallion eventually answers the call and charges into battle against his old rival. While Apollo starts the fight showboating and taunting his opponent, Rocky quickly shows his foe that no one should underestimate him. The bout’s full of shocking moments and brutal hits. After watching the evenly matched fighters trade blows, the exhausted duo falls to the mat. This moment leads to the most heartstopping conclusion to any franchise fight because the first who rises wins. When Rocky stands victorious at the last second, the hearts of fans soared at witnessing what may be the franchise’s greatest fight.