Apollo Creed

Apollo Creed is a major character in the Rocky film series and the titular overarching protagonist of the Creed film series. 
Apollo was one of Rocky Balboa's best friends (the other being Paulie Pennino) and former rival. They have spent many good times together between workouts and challenges after Apollo's redemption.
In Rocky IV, Apollo fights against Ivan Drago, but is overpowered and is killed by KO. He takes his final breath in the arms of Rocky, who later avenges his fallen friend by beating Drago in the ring.
He was portrayed by the late former NFL football player of the Raiders in Las Vegas (Formerly Oakland) and actor Carl Weathers, who also played Jericho Jackson a.k.a. "Action Jackson" in the 1988 action film Action Jackson, Chief Hampton Forbes in the television adaptation of In the Heat of the Night, Combat Carl in the Pixar animated short film Toy Story of Terror!, and Greef Karga in the Star Wars live-action television series The Mandalorian.
==History==
===Background===
Apollo Creed was born in 1942. He was an undefeated boxing Heavyweight Champion of the World. 
===Rocky===
After Mac Lee Green dropped out of the upcoming title bout due to a broken hand and other boxers saying there isn't enough time to train for the upcoming Bicentennial bout on New Year's Day 1976. Apollo gave Rocky Balboa a shot at the title (due to his ring name "The Italian Stallion" and that he was Italian like the discoverer of America Christopher Columbus). Apollo's manager Duke didn't like the idea that Rocky was a southpaw. Apollo brushed this off and said he would take the match in three rounds "Creed in three". Apollo didn't take the fight serious and was knocked down for the first time in his career in the 1st round. Rocky almost beat him except for Apollo winning by a split decision and remained undefeated. After the match Apollo told Rocky "there ain't going to be a rematch" and Rocky responded with "I don't want one". Apollo entered the fight with a 46-0 record.
===Rocky II===
In Rocky II, Apollo had a change of heart and wanted to finish their fight when he saw Rocky in the hospital and challenged him there. A few months later Apollo was dogged by fan hate mail stating the fight was rigged, your a disgrace to your people or how much were you paid to carry this bum. Apollo wanted a rematch to show the first fight was a fluke. However, Rocky Balboa officially retired, got married and was looking for a job. Apollo used a smear campaign to bring Rocky out of retirement which didn't go to well with his new bride Adrian. Rocky finally gave in and agreed to a rematch with Apollo on Thanksgiving Day 1976 at the Philadelphia Spectrum. The fight would be known as "Superfight II". Apollo trained relentlessly to silence the skeptics. Apollo held nothing back as he ruthlessly attacked Rocky throughout the fight. In the 15th round, Apollo had to just run out the timer and he would've won the match on points. However, Apollo wanted to go for the knockout and Rocky was told by Mickey to switch back to fighting as a southpaw. Rocky was determined to finish the fight hit Apollo with a left and both fighters went down to the canvas. Apollo was on the verge of getting up but just couldn't do it. Rocky however just made the count by one second making him the new Heavyweight Champion. Apollo ended the fight with a 47-1 record missing the great Rocky Marciano's record by two wins (49-0).
===Rocky III===
In Rocky III, now retired from Boxing he was a guest announcer for Rocky's final fight with the number one contender Clubber Lang. Apollo is introduced to the crowd and goes over to greet Clubber Lang but he is immediately insulted by Clubber. He goes over to Rocky's corner and tells Rocky "give everyone a present and knock out this bum". Apollo not liking being retired and missing the limelight offered to train Rocky to regain his title from Clubber Lang. Initially Rocky wasn't training to his full potential causing numerous outburst by Apollo. It wasn't until Adrian had a heart to heart talk with Rocky that changed his outlook. Prior to the fight, Apollo gives Rocky his iconic red, white and blue boxing trunks. Apollo just requests that he wash them before he returns them. In the ring Apollo is once again heckled by Clubber Lang and nearly starts a brawl before the match begins. A new look Rocky beats the World Heavyweight Champion Clubber Lang and regains the World Heavyweight Championship belt. Sometime later Apollo wants a rematch with his old foe Rocky in privacy without the press or media. Though the outcome of this match wasn't mentioned, Rocky received a black eye.
===Rocky Legends===
In the 2004 PlayStation 2 and Xbox video game, he has his own campaign mode with Rocky Balboa being his last opponent.
==Trivia==
*When Apollo died during the exhibition match (also his last match) against Ivan Drago, it was not an exaggeration: in real life deaths of fighters during boxing matches happened on occasion in the past, and there were little to no rules to prevent such unfortunate deaths. But after increase in deaths during matches, various organizations that run boxing in their respective nations finally took steps and made rules that prevent boxers from losing lives during matches. One such rule is TKO - after losing boxer is down for certain number of times, referee calls it Technical Knock-Out and has authority to end the match whether the defeated wishes it or not.
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