How many times did Rocky fight Apollo?
He and Rocky DID fight a third time.
It wasn't an official fight. There weren't any cameras involved. But for Apollo, losing to Rocky by one second was something he never got over.
Ignoring the advice of both Rocky and pretty much everyone else around him, Apollo comes out of retirement to fight Drago, only to get beaten literally to death in the opening seconds of the 2nd round.
Rocky (1976)
On Jan. 1, 1976, Rocky Balboa fought Apollo Creed for the first time in the Academy Award-winning film 'Rocky.
When Rocky beat Apollo in Rocky 2, it was primarily due to Apollo becoming obsessed with knocking Rocky out, when he could've easily won by decision once again. Instead, Rocky surprised Apollo with a late flurry after looking ready to go down.
After their two professional bouts, Apollo training Rocky prior to his death proves that he was the best fighter. At first, Apollo is an undefeated and arrogant champion, but after his bouts with Rocky, his demeanor changed.
The first film ends with Rocky losing, by judges' decision, his fight against the heavyweight champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers)—but winning a more personal victory by “going the distance,” making it through an entire fifteen rounds in the ring as no previous challenger had.
∎ This record only contains fights seen in the Rocky movies. Total record: 57 wins (54 KO), 23 Losses, 1 Draw. Though right-handed, Rocky fights as a southpaw (left-handed).
From the opening bell, Drago pummels Apollo into a bloody pulp, resulting in an ignominious exit for one of the great figures in franchise history.
Drago is seen receiving intramuscular injections in the movie, implied to be anabolic steroids, though the actual nature of the injected solution is never explicitly stated; instead, Ludmilla, his wife, states as a joke that Drago is like Popeye and eats spinach every day.
It is the sequel to Rocky III (1982) and is the fourth installment in the Rocky franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, and Dolph Lundgren. In the film, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) fights Ivan Drago (Lundgren), a Soviet boxer responsible for causing a personal tragedy.
How much did Rocky make against Apollo?
For the first fight with Apollo, Rocky was paid $150,000.
As both men struggle to regain their feet, Rocky is able to will himself up at the count of 9 while Apollo collapses from exhaustion, giving Rocky the win by knockout and making him the new heavyweight champion.
The third match between Rocky and Apollo has become legendary even beyond the Rocky films. Rocky III ended with Apollo challenging Rocky to one more rematch, alone in a gym so nobody else would know. The theatrical cut of Rocky IV picks up with Rocky coming home from that fight. He doesn't say who won.
In one scene, Adonis asks Stallion about the secret third fight, and Rocky reveals that Apollo won.
As both men struggle to regain their feet, Rocky is able to will himself up at the count of 9 while Apollo collapses from exhaustion, giving Rocky the win by knockout and making him the new heavyweight champion.
Rocky manages to stand up before the referee counts to ten, while Apollo is counted out. Rocky thus wins the fight by knockout and becomes the heavyweight champion of the world. In his post-fight announcement, Rocky, who has won back the respect of his fans and his wife Adrian, humbly thanks Apollo.