Rocky Balboa - When was his peak?

[Master]

Rocky Balboa was born July 6th 1946 and is an Italian-American who retired heavyweight boxer and former Two-Time Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Rocky is famous for his adaptable style, fighting spirit, iron chin, tenacity and vicious body attack from the southpaw stance.

Rocky beat undefeated champion Apollo Creed, undefeated hungry monster Clubber Lang, giant Russain Ivan Drago.

What film was Rocky at his peak and best? In Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, or even Rocky V and Rocky Balboa VI.

Discuss.

[Mark TKO]

For the rematch with Lang, Balboa was at his peak. Leaner and faster. He has so slimmed down he looked like a middleweight.

He bulked up a bit more for Drago and though not as fast that night his chin was incredible. 86 Tyson would not have stopped him even with a free punch. Fact.

[Primo Carnera]

For the rematch with Lang, Balboa was at his peak. Leaner and faster. He has so slimmed down he looked like a middleweight.

He bulked up a bit more for Drago and though not as fast that night his chin was incredible. 86 Tyson would not have stopped him even with a free punch. Fact.

Agreed . He was at his absolute peak for the rematch with Lang. Mickey would’ve been looking down with pride seeing his “greasy fast Eyetalian speed!”
I wonder if after that fight whether Balboa got offered to go on dancing with stars?

[Mark TKO]

I doubt it very much as it wasn't on back then.

[Gandalf]

I doubt it very much as it wasn't on back then.

That is indeed a valid observation too.

[Master]

I respectfully disagree with both of you. I believe Rocky's peak was when he beat Apollo in Rocky 2. Mickey trained him to be at his best ever and he was a fighting machine who would not be denied. Rocky had the eye of the tiger, he was hungry and wanted it for his wife and new born child.

Rocky beat a fully motivated, great champion in Apollo Creed. He would not be denied.

That Rocky would have beaten a prime Muhammed Ali and Joe Louis that night.

[Mark TKO]

The level of your boxing knowledge once again confirmed.

[Primo Carnera]

I respectfully disagree with both of you. I believe Rocky's peak was when he beat Apollo in Rocky 2. Mickey trained him to be at his best ever and he was a fighting machine who would not be denied. Rocky had the eye of the tiger, he was hungry and wanted it for his wife and new born child.

Rocky beat a fully motivated, great champion in Apollo Creed. He would not be denied.

That Rocky would have beaten a prime Muhammed Ali and Joe Louis that night.

Yeah, he was amazing , and it was a close call. But when he came back after getting it wrong against Lang in the first fight , he improved his “all round game”. It’s almost like Tyson Fury’s comeback.
1. He won it all and then lost dedication.
2. He had to beat somebody that some people perceived as the hardest hitter of all time.
3. He had to add something to his game because what he had wasn’t enough.
4. He regained the eye of the tiger. That’s why Survivor sang about it in Rocky 3 !

[Master]

Rocky 3 got it wrong because he was past his best, beating easy, tailor made fighters for him, handpicked by Mickey.

Rocky 3 got destroyed by Clubber Lang and the only reason he beat him in the rematch was because Lang was over rated, too young, raw and naive. Clubber did not know how to handle being a champion just like Leon Spinks and Ruiz.

1. Rocky 2 beat ATG who was at the peak of his powers.
2. Rocky 2 was fully motivated and a hungry challenger who wanted to win for Adrian/son.
3. Rocky 2 did not lose to Apollo at the end of Rocky 3 when they had their sparring session.

[Gandalf]

For the rematch with Lang, Balboa was at his peak. Leaner and faster. He has so slimmed down he looked like a middleweight.

He bulked up a bit more for Drago and though not as fast that night his chin was incredible. 86 Tyson would not have stopped him even with a free punch. Fact.

Spot on. He turned into Calzaghe that night. Fast, slick and of course able to adapt mid fight when he knew he could take Lang's power having worn him out.

Drago was post prime Balboa getting a beating, losing rounds, but able pull off a win with endurance.

Balboa was better in the first Creed fight than the second. In tbe second one he was way down.

He had the title run but hard to tell due to the match making in the Mayweather post 140 style. Looked good, but what did it mean?