APOLLO CREED

'Apollo Creed' was a fictional character from the ''Rocky (series)'' of films, initially portrayed as the World Heavyweight Champion. He was portrayed by Carl Weathers.

Contents

Role in the series

''Rocky''

''Rocky II ''

''Rocky III''

''Rocky IV''

Fighting style

Trivia

Role in the series

''Rocky''

Creed first appeared in the 1976 Oscar-winning film ''Rocky'' as world champion of boxing. Because no fighter will dare challenge him anymore, Creed responds with a promotion that will generate huge publicity: He will offer a newcomer an opportunity to battle Creed for the title, in a symbolic match in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Creed initially did not take the lightly-regarded Rocky Balboa seriously. When footage of Rocky training airs on television, Creed is too busy with business affairs to pay attention. When the match actually takes place, Apollo treats the fight as a mere show until Rocky knocks him down, the first time Creed has ever been knocked down in his entire career. He endures a grueling 15-rounder with the game Balboa, who seems to withstand every punch Creed throws at him, and refuses to go down until late in the 14th round. Although both fighters are badly beaten by the end, Apollo wins by a controversial split decision. At first, Creed declined a rematch.

''Rocky II ''

In the second film, Creed's initial resistance to a rematch with Balboa softened when it became clear that the prevailing public opinion was that Creed had either gotten lucky or had carried an inferior opponent the length of the match. Eager to change minds, Creed challenged Balboa to a second fight on Thanksgiving Day, 1976.
Unlike their first fight, Creed dominated Balboa throughout the second fight. By the final round, he was well ahead on points, but did not want a repeat of the first fight, and vowed to knock Balboa out. After going toe-to-toe for much of the final round, both were knocked down by a left from Balboa. Rocky was able to get up by the count of 9, but Creed failed to make the count and lost by KO, his first professional loss.
Apollo retired from boxing in 1980.

''Rocky III''

In the third film, Creed appeared at the first fight between Clubber Lang and Rocky Balboa. Following Rocky's loss, Creed took over as Balboa’s manager and trainer following his former mentor Mickey's death caused by Lang. The pair traveled to Creed's old gym in Los Angeles, California in preparation for a rematch with Lang. Creed encourages Rocky not to ignore the naysayers that say he is too old, but instead refocus himself. Creed mentions that Rocky will owe him "a big favor" once he wins, which he does not specify at first. Rocky's training was geared toward making him quicker and more agile, to counter a seasoned brawler like Clubber Lang. Rocky has trouble concentrating during his training, suffering from guilt over Mickey's demise and self-doubt. Creed helps Rocky rediscover the fire inside that had won him the title-which he had clearly lost in the time leading up to the Lang fight. Creed calls this fire the "Eye of the Tiger".
Before the match begins, Creed expresses his confidence that Rocky will win. He gives Rocky his signature "colors" (Apollo's stars and stripes boxing shorts) to wear during the fight. Re-energized with Creed in his corner, Rocky regains his title with a three-round knockout of Lang. After his victory, Creed reveals his favor - a third fight with Rocky, not as a brutal fight between rivals, but as friends in a sparring match.

''Rocky IV''

In Weathers' final appearance in the film series, Creed exits retirement to return to the ring when the Soviet Union enters professional boxing; they send their best fighter, Ivan Drago, to the United States as an envoy. Fearing that ex-champions like himself will be marginalized by the 'new breed' of athletes who use strength-enhancement tools to give them an edge, Creed challenges Drago to an exhibition at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Drago is much younger and in peak physical condition, his strength boosted even further using anabolic steroids. Creed trusted his ring experience to make quick work on Drago, but the Russian fighter pummeled him to his death, much to Rocky's horror. Rocky later avenges Apollo's death by defeating Drago in Moscow, Russia.

Fighting style

Because the original film was released in 1976 during the reign of Muhammad Ali, it is reasonable to assume that, with Ali being considered the quintessential boxer by having defeated some of the best of the time, Creed was based largely on him.
Like Ali, Apollo was an outside fighter, relying on his speed and power to get through fights. His jab-cross-hook combination were his mainstay, and also just like Ali, Creed's defense was heavily contingent upon his speed. Apollo was able to bob and weave and frustrate his opponents.
But just like Ali, Creed was susceptible to taking a lot of damage during fights because of the level at which he held his hands, a fact which ultimately proved to be his undoing.
Another flaw of Creed's would be overconfidence. Creed routinely underestimates his opponents, resulting in him sometimes going into fight dangerously unprepared. Rocky Balboa was the first one we see to take advantage of this, and his fight with Drago is perhaps the most extreme example. However, when prepared, as seen in the second film, Creed does not hesitate to use every advantage he has, such as his skill and speed to the fullest, making him much more dangerous.

Trivia

★ The premise for the Drago-Creed fight is similar to the Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling fights in the 1930s. Louis was African American and Schmeling's home country Germany was then under the control of the Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler, leading him to be viewed as the enemy.

★ All of Apollo's championship fights were scheduled for the 15 round distance. Championship fights did not convert from 15 rounds to 12 rounds until 1987.

★ Balboa is often wrongly credited with popularizing the red, white, and blue trunks (shown in the picture). Creed was the first person to wear them. Balboa's signature colors were black and gold.

★ He is referred to in the last line of David Banner's voice in Chamillionaire's song "Talkin' That Talk" from The Longest Yard soundtrack.

★ During the third season of the US version of The Office, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) gives a reference to Apollo Creed when challenging the office about a black person he trusts more than Jesus.

★ Homer Simpson confuses Creed with the Apollo space programs when he speaks of determination and inspiration; saying "I feel just like the man who built a rocket ship and singlehandedly went to the moon! What was his name? Apollo Creed?"

★ He is referred to in Lil Wayne's "Upgrade You Freestyle". "I'm a champion, where's the f
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★ Rocky Theme, damn, rest in peace Apollo Creed."

★ In an episode of ''In Living Color'', Jim Carrey and Keenan Ivory Wayans portray Rocky and a resurrected Apollo Creed, respectively, in a match against Grace Jones.

★ He is referred to in the lyrics of Jude's "She Gets the Feeling" from his 1998 release, ''No One is Really Beautiful'': "Everybody's got to play a final card a way to go do the deed / Throw the punches like Apollo Creed"