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Why Didn't apollo creed fight clubber lang?

posted 12 years ago by e_blakely
18 replies | jump to latest

I've always wondered that. Back when the movie first came out I accepted the idea Ok Apollo retired and maybe his best days were behind him but lo & behold he was more than willing to come out of retirement (even though it was an exhibition match) and fight Drago. Just saying Apollo was till obviously in good shape and it would've been a great way to end his career having come back and regained the title. He only had that one loss to rocky in his career. Plus Clubber was calling him out and disrespected him before & after the 1st fight with rocky. I know , I know it's a movie and the movie is called "Rocky" so Duh of course Rocky would get the fight but from a character standpoint, that's always a question I had. Why was Apollo so hell bent on helping rocky get his "eye of the tiger" back and regaining the title as opposed to doing it himself. He obviously felt he had the formula to beat clubber and he had a score to settle with him.

[–] pcf9909 11 years ago

Because Apollo knew he had lost the eye of the tiger before the last fight with Rocky and couldn't get it back. Otherwise there would have been a third Rocky Creed fight. In the real world there not only would have been a third Creed fight but since they both knocked each other out early there would have been a third Rocky Clubber fight.

[–] SunCanyonRoad 11 years ago

I agree with the original post. Creed had only 1 loss (and questionable one at that) The end of the Rocky II fight should have been a draw. Rocky didn't make it up but then again, it is only a movie.

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

[–] luxerus 10 years ago

Imagine if Rocky IV had been about Rocky taking on Clubber Lang again, then taking on Apollo again! It could have ended in a tie. We could have had another Rocky (Rocky IV would have been V, V would have been VI and better, and VI would have been VII).

[–] creatorof2002 10 years ago

1. Creed was a VERY VERY patriotic man and in his mind Drago was representing his nation as athletes often do especially at the olympics and Drago was an olympic champion. During that time we were in a cold war with Russia and Drago felt like an enemy to Creed because he representing the enemy at the time, Russia. That made it much more meaningful to him than some lame insults from a roided up jerk in an interview.

2. Creed was retired and did not want to risk any more brain damage or other injury, he was a husband and father and pretty young (under 40 I think). He did not want to push his luck. As I stated above his patriotism was a more powerful motivation for him than whatever part of his ego would have had him take on Clubber Lang.

3. One of you above posted that there would have been a 3rd fight between Lang and Rocky. It was announced before the fight that this was going to be Rocky's last fight. He wanted to become champion again to prove to himself and the world that he could do it but then he retired so he could enjoy the rest of his life with no further risk of brain damage so he would not have accepted a rematch with Lang. He came out of retirement in Rocky 4 for revenge so that was an exception but other than that he had no plans to fight again. Plus Lang like most bullies would not dare fight Rocky again after Rocky beat him so soundly, he would be too scared.

4. There would not have been a 3rd fight between Creed and Rocky. Almost losing to Rocky in the first movie then actually losing to him even if just barely in Rocky 2 would not give him very good hope of winning again PLUS Mickey was carefully picking opponents he knew Rocky would beat so it is unlikely Creed would have gotten the chance anyway.

[–] jsn_hylnd 10 years ago

You truly are delusional, Lang would never be scared of Rocky.

[–] allenm-01050 10 years ago

You make a lot of assumptions based on your preconceived worldview of people, yet they don't reflect the characterizations established in the movie.

1.If Lang was anxious to fight him in the first place, knowing him, he would have no problem fighting him a third time to establish who's the best.

2. Brain Damage was not a concern for the fighters at that time. Ali is one of the few who knowingly suffering permanent damage, the rest have retired comfortably...e.g. Foreman, Frazier, etc.

Your view and my view are mute points though, considering that this is a fictional story.
The moderator gave the real answer: This is a movie named Rocky and he does the fighting.

[–] rorygunn 10 years ago

if you read the Rocky 3 novelization it explains this.Apollo knew he could beat Clubber but having been retired for three years Apollo would've had to retrain and go through a couple of bouts even to get ranked as a contender and Apollo knew he only had one or two more good fights left in him...

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] passedpfv 10 years ago

Creed did fight Lang.

Creed fought Lang by using Rocky as his surrogate.

As stated on this board, Creed knows he can't beat Lang because he could not beat Balboa-- and Lang is a hungrier southpaw. Creed has lost the eye of the tiger, that competitive edge.

Accepting this, Apollo convince Rocky to let he, Apollo train him.

Creed has now come fill circle from the first film. His motto, "be a thinker, not a stinker" is now more apt than ever because he trained, taught and motivated Rocky from the worst beating of his career. If you don't believe me that Creed used Rocky as his surrogate against Lang, remember Creed let Rocky wear his colors for the fight.

Finally, to close the story or Apollo's redemption, is that fact that after Rocky won the title back from Lang, Apollo called in his favor: the private rubber match between he and Rocky.

He just needs to prove things for only himself now.

[–] CapitanJusticia 9 years ago

Awesome post!

[–] koffeenkreame41-1 9 years ago

Creed did fight Lang.

Creed fought Lang by using Rocky as his surrogate.

As stated on this board, Creed knows he can't beat Lang because he could not beat Balboa-- and Lang is a hungrier southpaw. Creed has lost the eye of the tiger, that competitive edge.

Accepting this, Apollo convince Rocky to let he, Apollo train him.

Creed has now come fill circle from the first film. His motto, "be a thinker, not a stinker" is now more apt than ever because he trained, taught and motivated Rocky from the worst beating of his career. If you don't believe me that Creed used Rocky as his surrogate against Lang, remember Creed let Rocky wear his colors for the fight.

Finally, to close the story or Apollo's redemption, is that fact that after Rocky won the title back from Lang, Apollo called in his favor: the private rubber match between he and Rocky.

He just needs to prove things for only himself now.

Great post!

"I'm the ultimate badass,you do NOT wanna f-ck wit me!"Hudson,Aliens😬

[–] Dark_Sithlord 9 years ago

Outstanding analysis.

[–] scottisthemainevent 10 years ago

I agree, why train rocky to fight like a black fighter when you are already a great one? He still had the speed and know how to beat clubber lang and was already in better shape than rocky. The only thing he did not have was as good a chin as rocky.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Jeff0015 9 years ago

Patriotism was apollos primary motivation I think. Not simply regaining glory.

[–] 9 years ago

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