Ranking Rocky Balboa’s toughest opponents
Former world heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa has been involved in some of the most iconic and memorable fights in boxing history
THE pro career of world heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa, also known as The Italian Stallion, was one full of drama and highs and lows and culminated with a points defeat Mason Dixon in 2006.
The Philly legend ended his career with a record of 57-23-1 (54) and won the hearts of fight fans all over the world with his aggressive style and his ability to take one to give one and miraculously rally from the brink of defeat.
To celebrate Balboa, and to inspire you to crack open a Rocky box-set during this festive period, here are the 10 best, toughest or simply most iconic fights of Balboa’s unbelievable pro career.
10) George McQuilken
Known by true fans all over as “the fight that launched Rocky’s career,” this bout at the Boston Arena led to a controversial split decision for Rocky that had the fans jeering and empty whisky bottles flying from the balcony down into the ring. Referee Walter “Killer” Kowalaski was barely able to keep the fighters from holding a rematch on the spot. Both fighters left the ring holding folding chairs over their heads to ward off the missiles. McQuilken’s training partners from Ciboli’s gym, Spenser and Hawk, were able to clear a gauntlet-like path through the crowd for both fighters to escape. No rematch was desired or scheduled.
9) Tommy Gunn
Known as the Clone Ranger or Rocky’s Robot, Gunn sought Balboa out as a trainer, then let stardom get to his head, and eventually ended up scrapping with his old mentor on the streets. As you do.
8) Spider Rico
Rico was a Puerto Rican who boxed on the Philadelphia club scene circa 1976. Featured in Rocky I, he was blitzed by Balboa in round two of a scheduled eight-rounder.
7) Joe Chan
Joe Chan was the best heavyweight contender China had to offer around the time of Rocky III but nowhere near good enough to test a prime Balboa. Two rounds into his title shot, Chan was knocked out by a trademark Balboa hook.
6) Vito Soto
Soto, a Colombian slugger briefly mentioned during Rocky III, was brutally knocked out by Balboa in round six when attempting to snatch The Italian Stallion’s heavyweight crown.
5) Mac Lee Green
Green won a gold medal for Canada at the Olympics and rose to the number one contender spot as a pro heavyweight. He was defeated by Balboa in round six of their world heavyweight title fight.
4) Mason Dixon
Dixon cleared out the heavyweight division in 2006, racking up 33 straight wins and 30 knockouts, yet never got the respect he felt he deserved. Following a video simulation of a bout against Balboa, which saw Dixon come up short, the pair fought for real and the younger man edged the fight, Rocky’s last, on points.
3) Ivan Drago
Standing at six-foot-five and weighing 260 pounds, Russia’s Drago was an Olympic gold medallist, an Infantry Captain for the Soviet Army, and the machine-like opponent Balboa stopped in round 15 of a heavyweight title fight.
2) Clubber Lang
‘The Southside Slugger’ accumulated a 28-0 pro record before challenging then-champion Balboa in 1983. Although he stopped Rocky in round two, Lang experienced defeat for the first time in the pair’s rematch when Rocky gained revenge in the third.
1) Apollo Creed
They started as foes and finished as friends. Creed won the first fight between them, taking a close decision, but Balboa, encouraged by a brave performance, managed to reverse the result in the rematch, stopping Creed in the final round.
The piece appeared in the Boxing News in Dec. 2018. This version incorporates minor changes making it more informative for my Facebook Friends.
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