Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) had a legendary boxing career in theRockymovie franchise. Balboa, a southpaw underdog no-name from Philadelphia, enjoyed a rags-to-riches story when he became the heavyweight champion of the world before returning to Philly in his later years of retirement.Rockyis the inspirational protagonist ofsixRockymovies, and he also co-starred in twoCreedfilmsas the mentor and manager of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan).
Introduced in 1976’sRocky,Rocky Balboa began as an unknown club fighter who barely eked out a living by moonlighting as a mob enforcer.Rocky’s original boxing style was straight-ahead brute force with no style or footwork.Rocky’s original manager and trainer, Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), taught the southpaw to fight right-handed and worked on his speed.Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers)reinvented Balboa’s fighting style and taught Rocky to fight like him, emphasizing movement and defense combined with Balboa’s power.
Rocky’s fights are iconic, with several being 15-round wars that pushed Balboa and his opponents to the limits of human endurance.Rocky ended his professional career as a two-time heavyweight champion. However, a few of Rocky’s most famous battles were not sanctioned boxing matches that counted toward his professional record. Here is Rocky Balboa’s complete boxing record from 1976’sRockyto 2006’sRocky Balboaand his unforgettable fights in between.
Rocky’s Record Before His Fights With Apollo Creed (Rocky & Rocky II)
Apollo Gave Rocky Two Chances At The Heavyweight Title
WhenRockybegins, it’s November 1975, andBalboa’s professional boxing record is 43-21, with 40 wins by knockout. Rocky’s first on-screen fight is a bruising win over Spider Rico (Pedro Lovell), that earned him a winner’s purse of $65 before fees. When Apollo Creed’s planned opponent for his New Year’s Day fight backs out due to injury, Creed handpicks “The Italian Stallion” Rocky Balboa to receive a Cinderella shot at the heavyweight championship.
All 19 Fights In Rocky & Creed Movies, Ranked
The Rocky series is full of famous fights, so here is every single boxing match in the Rocky and Creed movies ranked from worst to best.
Improbably, the hungryRocky goes the distance against Apollo, lasting the full 15 rounds with the relatively unprepared champion. Although Creed won the fight by split decision -bringing Rocky’s record to 43-22 with 40 KOs- had Apollo not been saved by the bell, it’s probable Balboa would have knocked the champion out. InRocky II,Apollo demanded a rematch that was set for Thanksgiving 1976. Despite being better prepared, Rocky won the fight by knockout.Rocky Balboa was now the heavyweight champion of the world with a record of 44-22 with 41 knockouts.
Rocky’s Record As Heavyweight Champion (Rocky III)
Rocky Lost And Regained The Heavyweight Title
Rocky IIIestablished that by 1981, Rocky Balboa had been heavyweight champion of the world for five years. The popular champion won ten title defenses, although Rocky was later crushed to learn that his manager, Mickey Goldmill,hand picked Balboa’s challengersto protect him. WithRocky’s record now 54-22, Clubber Lang (Mr. T) emerged as the number one contender. Clubber knocked out Balboa in two rounds and became heavyweight champion,bringing Rocky’s record to 54-23.In Balboa’s defense, he was distraught about Mickey’s heart attack and death.
All 9 Rocky & Creed Movies Ranked (Including Creed 3)
With Creed III, the Rocky franchise now spans 9 movies and 6 decades. We rank every film in the boxing movie series to find the champion.
Apollo Creed re-entered the picture, offering to train Rocky for a rematch with Clubber in exchange for"a favor.“After overcoming his fear and self-doubt, Rocky dedicated himself to Apollo’s training, reinventing his fighting style to resemble Creed’s flash and speed. In the most dominant performance of his professional boxing career, Rocky humbled Clubber and knocked him out in three rounds.Balboa was now a two-time heavyweight champion with a 55-23 record.
Rocky’s Record In Unofficial Fights (Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V)
TheRockymovies left it unclear if Rocky Balboa defended the heavyweight title beforeRocky IV.However,inRocky III, Balboa fought two unsanctioned fights, and no one ever saw one of them. Before his first fight with Clubber Lang, Rocky battled Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan), the world wrestling champion, to a draw in a charity boxer vs. wrestler exhibition. At the end ofRocky III, Apollo cashed in his"favor"for a private fight with Rocky, Two decades later,Balboa admitted to Adonis Creed that Apollo wonthat fight.
Rocky won his epic 15-round war with Drago by knockout, but the boxing commission didn’t sanction the fight.
InRocky IV,Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) came to America and killed Apollo Creed in the ring during their exhibition match in 1985. This led toRocky Balboa surrendering the heavyweight championship to fight Drago in Russiaand avenge Apollo.Rocky won his epic 15-round war with Dragoby knockout, but the boxing commission didn’t sanction the fight.
InRocky V, the retired Rocky becomes the manager of his protégé, Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison). Gunn and Balboa had a falling out and endedRocky Vin a street fight that Rocky won, but it obviously doesn’t count towards his professional record.
Rocky Balboa’s 2006 Comeback & Final Boxing Record
Rocky Fought The Heavyweight Champion One Last Time
In 2006’sRocky Balboa, Rocky was long retired. A widower, Balboa lived in South Philadelphia and owned a restaurant named after his late wife, Adrian (Talia Shire). However, Rocky was restless, feeling he had something more to prove to himself. Fueled by public interest in a computer fight that predicted Rocky Balboa would win againstheavyweight champion Mason Dixon(Antonio Tarver), Rocky mounted a comeback to face Dixon in an exhibition fight. When the Dixon fight began,Rocky’s professional boxing record was announced as 57-23-1.
Rocky Balboa’s final professional boxing record is 57-24-1.
Rocky Balboaended with Rocky going the 10-round distance with Mason Dixon before losing by split decision. Now officially retired for good, Rocky Balboa’s final professional boxing record is 57-24-1. In 2015, Adonis Creed came to Philadelphia and asked Rocky, his father Apollo’s best friend and greatest rival, to be his trainer. With Rocky in his corner, Adonis became heavyweight champion of the world.Rockyappeared in twoCreedmovies and was instrumental in Apolllo’s son reaching the greatness he and Apollo Creed enjoyed.
