Rocky Balboa proved Christmas miracles were real in 1985.
‘The Italian Stallion’ traveled to Russia to take on new professional Ivan Drago, who had just turned over after amassing a 100-0 record and claiming an Olympic gold medal during his sensational amateur career.
Drago’s move into the pro ranks was triggered by an exhibition bout with former champion Apollo Creed, who previously went 1-1 in his two-fight series with Rocky Balboa.
The ex-rivals men had become friends since then, and Rocky was in Creed’s corner when he suffered a fatal knockout loss to Drago, who callously proclaimed ‘If he dies, he dies’ during a post-fight interview.
The Story of Rocky Balboa vs Ivan Drago
Intent of avenging the death of his friend, Rocky called out Drago before giving up his world title and setting up an unsanctioned 15-round bout in the Soviet Union.
The boxing veteran used old-school training methods to prepare for the fight, while Drago relied on the latest advancements in modern science to ensure he was in tip-top shape for his pro debut.
After being booed into the ring, Rocky seemed to be on the verge of suffering the same fate as Creed after being pummelled by Drago for most of the first two rounds.
However, a clean right hook in the second stanza opens up a cut on Rocky’s opponent and gives his corner team hope by proving the stoic KO artist is actually human.
The two men went toe-to-toe for the next 12 rounds. It was a fight for the ages that finished with a flourish as Balboa seized on his opponent’s exhaustion to score a late KO victory and avenge Creed’s death.
Boos turned to cheers after Rocky proved himself to the Russian people.
It was a Christmas miracle you’d only see on the silver screen. And if you didn’t know by now, that’s exactly what it was. Rocky IV was a smash-hit box office success that set up two more movies and several spin-offs.
Sylvester Stallone’s mixed feelings on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson
The man behind Rocky, Sylvester Stallone, is naturally a massive boxing fan.
In November, he was one of the 60 million people who tuned in to Netflix for Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson, which featured a 27-year-old internet celebrity taking on a former heavyweight champion more than three decades his elder.
It ended in a lopsided decision defeat for ‘Iron Mike’, which was not unexpected given his age and the fact he hadn’t fought professionally since 2005.
Still, Stallone thinks Tyson was more than capable of beating the 11-1 pro.
“Just to set my personal record straight,” he wrote alongside several of him with Mike Tyson,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Business is business. SOMETIMES you have to do hard things and sacrifice for the sake of helping your FAMILY…. I have known this unbelievable athlete since he’s 19 years old and what we saw was him giving one of the great Oscar winning performances of all time!!!!
“Please, Jake, be grateful, HE SPARED YOUR LIFE! Trust me …..Keep punching Mike, there will never be a MAN like you, a GLADIATOR like you, and a SOUL like you! Keep punching champion of champions!
“I remember once I bumped into him and thought I was hit by runaway BULLDOZER!!!”
As his comments went viral and Paul issued a strong statement condemning unsubstantiated claims that the Tyson fight was ‘rigged’, the 78-year-old actor changed his stance.
Stallone said: “Just to set my personal record straight … upon Second, viewing the best man won that night. My apologies. Keep punching.”
- READ MORE: Mike Tyson became a ‘savage’ after conversation with legendary boxing trainer Cus D’Amato