Rocky Balboa Isn’t A Good Boxer (And That’s Secretly Perfect)

Despite his status as the most famous movie boxer of all time, the Rocky franchise’s Rocky Balboa is actually not a particularly good boxer – and it’s actually a perfect fit for his character. Immediately iconic after his very first appearance, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa has since cemented a place in movie history as one of the most inspirational characters of all time thanks to his boxing exploits. However, despite all that, Rocky’s not actually a particularly gifted boxer.

Over the course of the series, Rocky takes on some of the most formidable fighters in the fictionalized version of the boxing world. Opponents like Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, and Apollo Creed are arguably all more technically proficient than Philadelphia’s most famous son. In fact, on many occasions throughout the films, Rocky’s shortcomings are consistently exploited by his opponents. However, while this may seem to be a major flaw in his arsenal, it actually reveals something intrinsic in Rocky’s character that helps make him such a beloved protagonist.

Of course, Rocky’s a great fighter – as evidenced by his ability to overcome the best in the sport – but in terms of boxing technique, he’s not the most talented. Boxing is famously about hitting without getting hit, whereas Rocky Balboa has a tendency to take a beating (usually for dramatic effect) in practically every one of his fights. Rocky’s career saw him rack up many losses alongside his victories, proving that he wasn’t the most technically gifted boxer in the franchise. However, Rocky’s lack of technical prowess is actually a large part of what makes him so perfect as a character. By having the titular character face off against more skilled operators, every Rocky movie is something of an underdog story, which is an important part of the franchise’s formula. Rocky gets by on his heart and his unflinching resolve, and that makes him much more sympathetic to the audience.

Rocky’s signature fighting style lacks any significant defensive component. Typically, he’s dominated by more proficient boxers until his steadfast resolve allows him an opening to capitalize on his strength. Rocky Balboa’s boxing style was based on Rocco Francis “Rocky Marciano” Marchegiano, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, although Balboa’s record doesn’t quite match that of Marchegiano’s (who retired unbeaten).

By making Rocky less technically skilled than his opponents, it makes him more relatable to the audience, which in turn makes him easier to root for. Seeing Rocky overcome the odds to go the distance or win the championship are among cinema’s most triumphant moments, and it feeds directly into the sport of boxing’s mass appeal. At times, the Rocky franchise even takes this beyond the point of plausibility: Rocky’s fight with Mason Dixon required the suspension of disbelief, but it still proved massively popular with Rocky Balboa‘s audience due to the brilliantly-written characterization of the character.

To those with a keen eye for boxing, it’s clear that Rocky Balboa has never been a quality operator within the ring. This is something that’s all the more evident when considered against the more accurate boxing in the Creed franchise. However, by giving the character a fighting style that’s at once dramatic and exciting (and makes him a perpetual underdog) the Rocky franchise secured Balboa’s lasting popularity with audiences the world over.

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