Yes, Apollo Creed Was Inspired By Muhammad Ali - & Ali Loved It
It turns out that Apollo Creed's character in the Rocky movies was inspired by real-life boxing champ Muhammad Ali, and the athlete reportedly loved the cinematic semi-portrayal. The beloved Rocky series has always generated plenty of discussion in the decades since its widely-lauded release. This is due, in part (there's a slew of variables that make the films «work» so well), to the franchise's layered, memorable, and generally interesting characters. Sylvester Stallone has said that the titular protagonist of the Rocky series is based on boxer Chuck Wepner. Stallone has also said that Wepner made it on his radar when he famously fought Muhammad Ali in 1975. Interestingly, Ali also inspired another Rocky character: Apollo Creed.
The Rocky franchise came out swinging in 1976, when the world met the debut movie's loveable namesake character. A good-hearted Philadelphia native from a financially strained and rough-and-tumble background, Rocky Balboa finds love, a resilient and unrelenting fire within himself, and much more as he becomes a boxing icon and navigates life throughout the series. In addition to other vital characters such as Adrian and Mickey, Carl Weathers' Apollo Creed is a profound asset to the franchise's wide array of engaging personalities.
Related: Creed 4 Has The Perfect Boxer For A Real Drago Fight
Sadly, the world now knows that Apollo Creed is killed off in Rocky IV. Regardless of this, his fiery nature and showman-like antics in and outside of the ring leave quite the legacy behind. It's easy to see how Creed strongly resembles Muhammad Ali, a world-renowned boxer who had an explosive career in the 1960s and '70s. According to a 1979 interview with Ali documented by legendary film critic Roger
Read more on screenrant.com
