19 Facts About Apollo Creed

Apollo Creed is a fictional character from the Rocky franchise, portrayed by Carl Weathers.

Apollo Creed appears in the first four Rocky films, serving as the main antagonist in Rocky and Rocky II, and later becoming one of the protagonists in Rocky III and Rocky IV.

In Rocky, Creed cleans out his division of serious challengers but decides to fight Balboa for the fan spectacle as well as for the implied symbolism of fighting a man with an Italian background.

Apollo Creed first appears in the 1976 Oscar-winning film Rocky as the charismatic, intelligent, and undefeated nearly 33-year-old World Heavyweight Champion.

The public opinion is that Apollo Creed fixed the fight against Balboa to retain his title, which leads to Apollo Creed's desire for a rematch to intensify against the pleas of his staff, who tell him to "let it go".

Apollo Creed uses various humiliation tactics to coax Balboa out of retirement, which he accomplishes when Balboa and his trainer, Mickey Goldmill, accept the rematch.

Apollo Creed instructs him to change his boxing stance from left-handed to right-handed to confuse Creed and to protect his damaged right eye.

Balboa gets up by the count of 9, but Apollo Creed is unable to pull himself up and is counted out, losing the match and the championship by knockout, his first professional loss.

Apollo Creed encourages Rocky not to ignore the naysayers who say he is too old but, instead, to refocus.

Apollo Creed helps Rocky rediscover the fire that had won him the title, and which he had lost in the time leading up to the Lang fight.

However, Apollo Creed is not ready for the extreme size and strength of the Russian.

Rocky again tries to stop the fight by throwing in the towel, but hesitates too long, giving Drago a chance to deliver a fatal blow to Apollo Creed, who dies in Rocky's arms in the middle of the ring.

Apollo Creed succeeds as the film ends with Rocky winning the fight by knockout in the last round, with the Soviet premier and the Politburo looking on.

Apollo Creed first seeks tutelage from Duke's son, "Lil' Duke", who runs the Delphi Boxing Academy.

Rocky compliments his father's boxing ability and reveals that Apollo Creed won their third match.

Apollo Creed is angry that he left her but tells Apollo that he brought her a son named Adonis, and this allowed her to forgive him.

Apollo Creed credited the film with equally considering both Creed and Rocky's perspectives.

Apollo Creed focuses on a long-reaching jab to slowly wear his opponents down.

Apollo Creed makes good use of long punches instead of strong uppercuts or hooks, and is constantly moving, trying to take as little damage as possible while confusing his opponent.