Rocky
Rocky
Rocky Movies
Rocky Characters
Rocky Movie Stars
Rocky Character biography
Robert "Rocky" Balboa was born in 1945. A Roman Catholic, he started boxing at the age of fifteen, because, as his father said, he had no "brains", so he might as well use his body. By the mid-1970s, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, working as an enforcer for a local loan shark and fighting club fights.He was close friends with Paulie Penino whose sister, Adrian, he would ultimately marry. In November 1975, Rocky was asked to be the challenger for the “Heavyweight Championship of the World” against reigning champion Apollo Creed after the scheduled challenger Mac Lee Green broke his hand during training. The fight was scheduled for January 1, 1976. Apollo took the fight as a joke and a novelty. Rocky was given a “million-to-one-shot” at winning the belt and a fifty-to-one shot at lasting more than three rounds with Creed. Rocky “went the distance” and was still standing at the end of the fight. Although Rocky lost the fight in a split decision, it didn't matter to him; all he wanted to do was prove he wasn't just another bum from the neighborhood. Following the fight and some time in the hospital, Rocky married Paulie’s sister, Adrian. Not long afterwards, Adrian was pregnant. Rocky retired from boxing to get a "desk job", and tried acting in commercials. However, he lacked the ability to do so, and ended up working at the local meat house with his brother-in-law. He was laid off soon after.
Apollo Creed wanted a rematch with him to prove that the first fight was a fluke. Taking the risk of permanent blindness due to injuries from the first fight with Apollo, Rocky accepted the rematch, which took place November 1976. By this time, Rocky is 31 years old. He accepts the rematch against Adrian's wishes. Without her support, his training lacks motivation. Adrian went into premature labor after Paulie yelled at her for not supporting Rocky for the fight. She gave birth to Robert "Rocky" Balboa, Jr., but falls into a coma due to birth complications. Rocky stays by her bedside until she wakes up. When she does, he tells her he will not fight Creed and she tells him that the one thing she wants him to do is "Win." Motivated by the birth of his son and Adrian’s recovery, he wins at the very last second, beating the 10-count as both Rocky and Apollo fall in the 15th round. Rocky wins the fight with a knock-out, becoming the “Heavyweight Champion of the World.” Rocky followed this win with ten successful title defenses and an exhibition match with the world wrestling champion, Thunderlips, whom Rocky fought to a draw. An up and coming challenger, Clubber Lang, repeatedly dogs Rocky for a fight despite Rocky's attempts to retire. After finding out that his previous title defenses had been hand picked to make sure he would be able to beat them, Rocky doesn't believe in himself any more. He then lost a match against challenger Clubber Lang This was the same night Rocky’s long-time manager, Mickey Goldmill died. Apollo then came to him and offered his services to train him for a rematch against Clubber. In a fast-paced rematch, Rocky wins and once more becomes the “Heavyweight Champion of the World”. Apollo and Rocky continue their friendship with Rocky helping Apollo train for an exhibition match against Soviet champion Ivan Drago. During the fight, Rocky has the opportunity to throw in the towel and stop the fight but adheres to Apollo's wishes and lets the fight continue. In this match, Apollo dies after several intense blows to the head. Rocky feels guilty and responsible for Apollo's death and decides to fight Ivan Drago in Russia on Christmas 1985. The fight will not be sanctioned and Rocky has to give up his Heavyweight title in order to fight. Adrian, again, doesn't want him to fight, believing that it is suicide. She tells him that he can't win and does not accompany him to Russia for his training. She changes her mind and decides to support him, telling him that she's with him, "no matter what." With her support, Rocky's training and focus intensifies. Rocky wins the non-title battle in the ring against Drago, and wins the Soviet crowd's support in the process.
Following his return from the Soviet Union, Balboa learned that his accountant stole all of his money after his brother-in-law unknowingly gave him power of attorney. Balboa was forced to retire upon learning that his years in the ring had left him with brain damage. Balboa reopened Mighty Mick's Boxing and began training fighters. One of his boxers,Tommy “The Machine” Gunn, proved to be an up-and-comer in the heavyweight division and Rocky was seen as something of a success as a trainer. Ultimately, Gunn left Balboa on bad terms and signed with controversial promoter George Washington Duke who promised Gunn a title shot. As promised Gunn got his shot and won the heavyweight championship. After Gunn's victory many in the media chided him for not having the heart of Balboa. Feeling that they had unfinished business, Gunn sought Balboa out and badgered him into a street fight which Balboa won. In 1995, Balboa opened a restaurant named Adrian's in Philadelphia. He decorated the restaurant with mementos from his boxing days and would often regale customers with tales of his time in the ring.
Adrian Balboa later developed cancer which caused her death on January 11, 2002. Balboa later applied for and was granted a boxing license in order to fight a few fights of minor importance. However, these fights would never come to pass. Due to the enormous popularity of a computer generated fantasy fight between Balboa and the reigning world heavyweight champion Mason "The Line" Dixon (which Rocky won easily) along with Dixon's need to prove himself to the world as a true champion, promoters set up a real-life exhibition in Las Vegas between the two fighters (both of whom the two fighters treated the fight as if their lives were on the line, however). Rocky trained with the remnants of his old team, including Apollo's former trainer, and at 61 years of age, once again entered the ring to take on Dixon in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rocky was slower than Dixon but incredibly strong and muscular; Rocky was built so tough that Dixon shattered his own hand hitting him. The two men fought an epic struggle, both falling numerous times, and becoming bloodied and bruised over the course of the fight. In the closing seconds of the final round, Rocky was inspired by his thoughts of Adrian, and the motivational speeches he gave his son in the weeks before the fight, and rallied himself. He landed a very solid blow to Dixon's jaw, disabling him as the final bell rang. Dixon ultimately won the bout in a split decision, all the spectators cheered for Balboa as he left the arena one last time. Balboa's professional record is 57-24-1 with 54 KOs.