Rocky III teased but never delivered an epic fight with Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky III brought Rocky Balboa’s movie saga into the hyperkinetic, MTV-style era of the 1980s. Now the heavyweight champion of the world after upsetting Apollo Creed, Rocky faces a dangerous new challenger in James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. T). But Balboa also gets a new manager and best friend when Apollo replaces the late Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith).
Apollo and Rocky’s careers went in separate directions after their super clash in Rocky II. Balboa spent the next five years as the defending heavyweight champion, and Rocky racked up ten successful тιтle defenses under Mickey’s tutelage. Rocky also became a media darling, appearing in TV commercials, talk shows, and ringing up lucrative endorsements. Meanwhile, Apollo faded into an unofficial retirement after his loss to Balboa in Philadelphia. Apollo didn’t strap boxing gloves on again until his fateful ‘exhibition bout’ with Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV.
Why Rocky III Teased But Never Delivered Apollo Creed Vs. Clubber Lang
Apollo Was Satisfied With Managing Rocky Against Clubber
Apollo Creed’s Rocky III return was when he was a special guest at ringside for Rocky Balboa’s тιтle defense against Clubber Lang. After being introduced to the crowd, Apollo greeted Clubber, who callously told Creed to “get outta my face” and called him a “has been.” Apollo kept his cool and sauntered to Rocky’s corner, telling his former foe to do everyone a favor and “drop this chump.” Apollo then looked on as Clubber demolished Balboa inside two rounds and won the heavyweight тιтle from the humiliated “Italian Stallion.”
Rocky III is, of course, the story of how Rocky Balboa regained “The Eye of the Tiger” with Apollo’s help, but the seed was planted for Creed to challenge Clubber himself. Instead, Apollo trained Rocky for his rematch with Lang. In-storyline, Creed was retired, and the movie is about Rocky, so Balboa had to redeem himself against Clubber. Rocky III loosely implied Apollo may have hung up the gloves due to his age (Creed was 39 in Rocky III) and/or for health reasons. But Apollo might still have had the skill and resolve to beat Clubber himself if he wanted that fight.
Apollo Vs. Clubber Would Have Been Rocky Movies’ Greatest Fight Without Balboa
An Epic Clash Between Two Former Heavyweight Champions
The Rocky saga wouldn’t shift to become Creed until 2015, but Apollo Creed vs. Clubber Lang would have been a hell of a fight. Had Apollo opted to make a comeback to challenge Clubber instead of training Rocky for a rematch, the “Master of Disaster” vs. “The Southside Slugger” would have sold out any arena. Creed’s fluid style and endurance might have overcome Clubber’s punching power and ferocity. After all, Apollo was conditioned to last 15 rounds, and Rocky (with Creed’s help) exposed Lang’s lack of stamina beyond 3 rounds.
Creed was satisfied by Rocky’s triumph, and Clubber was yesterday’s news.
After Rocky Balboa knocked out Clubber Lang and regained the тιтle at the end of Rocky III, there was no motivation for Apollo Creed to seek a fight with Lang himself. Creed was satisfied by Rocky’s triumph, and Clubber was yesterday’s news. Creed was more keen to cash in his “favor” for a private rematch against Rocky. Tragically, when Apollo did decide to mount a comeback, he was murdered in the ring by Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. If only Apollo had gotten one more fight to whoop Clubber Lang before he met his end against Drago.
