It turns out that Apollo Creed ’s character in theRockymovies was inspired by real - life packing champ Muhammad Ali , and the athlete reportedly loved the cinematic semifinal - depiction . The belovedRockyseries has always generate plenteousness of discussion in the decennary since its wide - lauded release . This is due , in part ( there ’s a slew of variable that make the movie " work " so well ) , to the franchise ’s layered , memorable , and generally interesting characters . Sylvester Stallone has said that the nominal champion of theRockyseries is based on pugilist Chuck Wepner . Stallone has also said that Wepner made it on his radio detection and ranging when he famously fight Muhammad Ali in 1975 . Interestingly , Ali also inspired anotherRockycharacter : Apollo Creed .

TheRockyfranchise came out swing in 1976 , when the world met the debut movie ’s loveable namesake character . A honorable - hearted Philadelphia aboriginal from a financially strained and uncut - and - spill background signal , Rocky Balboa finds love , a resilient and unrelenting firing within himself , and much more as he becomes a pugilism icon and navigate lifetime throughout the serial . In addition to other vital characters such as Adrian and Mickey , Carl Weathers ' Apollo Creed is a fundamental asset to the franchise ’s wide array of engaging personalities .

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lamentably , the world now know thatApollo Creed is down off inRocky IV . irrespective of this , his fiery nature and impresario - comparable antics in and outside of the annulus will quite the bequest behind . It ’s easy to see how Creed powerfully resembles Muhammad Ali , a world - renowned boxer who had an explosive career in the 1960s and ' 70s . agree toa 1979 interviewwith Ali document by fabled plastic film critic Roger Ebert , not only are the parallels intentional , but Ali loved how he was part of the inspiration behind the big - than - lifeRockycharacter . He ’s cite as acknowledging Creed ’s elan for gymnastic showmanship and purposeful attempts at intimidate those he crusade in the film . He said while viewingRocky IIwith Ebert , " That ’s me , all correct . Apollo sound like me . Insulting the opponent in the press , to get him psyched out . That ’s me exactly . " Based on what ’s written in the consultation , Ali seems to have really enjoyed his similarities withApollo Creed in theRockymovies , and also gave a trained , experient boxer ’s take on what parts of the second launching are naturalistic and which hail across to him as creative liberties taken for storytelling purposes .

In addition , Ali really enjoyed the picture show   as a firearm of entertainment . He took his family to a particular viewing of it that ’s discussed in the article , and he also called it a " great movie " with " all the [ right ] ingredients . " This , of course , is reassuring to check . It ’s great that both Ali and Chuck Wepner have been quoted voice positivistic feelings about how their stories aid inspire primal characters in theRockyfranchise .

After all , there have been muckle of movies and TV demonstrate over the years ( e.g. The Hurt Locker , TheSocial connection , The Blind Side , and many more ) that portray real - life figures - or , at least , fibre and/or plot spell that are semi - establish on them - in way that reportedly disappoint or even anger those people . Ali , on the other hand , seems to have savour his all - AmericanRockycharacter as much as anyone else . And not only that , but thanks to Ali , theRockymovie franchisehas the profoundly important character of Apollo Creed as part of its wildly beloved and well - done originative formula .

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