Do you think Rocky could've beaten Cluber Lang the first time had...

[Jacob T. Paschal]

...Mic not been injured before their first match, thus breaking his focus?? What Adrian said during his training in CA makes me think he might've. Sure it would've been a hard fight, but I do think he could've. Then again, it was the point of the movie for Rocky to learn and move on...

[Frank Castle]

Mr. T can't be beat! Mr. T gonna bring the heat!


I'm white so it's hard for me to rap.:D

[Mike Spartz]

Rocky didn't lose to Clubber because Mick got injured. Rocky lost to Clubber because he didn't have his inner hunger to compete. The opening fight with Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan) was meant to show how far Rocky had fallen. He didn't have the killer instinct anymore and Lang knew it. It took Apollo Creed and his team to help Rocky find himself again.

Another thing, he'd gotten so caught up in the good life of being champ that he forgot or neglected to train hard for the fight. In other words, he underestimated Clubber Lang.

[Batmex]

I agree with Mike but:

It was also Mic's fault that Rocky's fighting spirit dimished, for hand picking opponents for him, had he choosen more competent fighters once in a while, Rock would still be sharp as a blade.:robin:

[HaagenDas]

Cant blame Mickey for that. He was at the top. Whenever people reach the top they become targets (which is why a lot of people dont want to be at the top...but that's a whole other topic that I could go on for hours about). Mickey just did his best to keep Rocky at the top as long as possible and also keep him safe. Who would want their surrogate son to go through beatings like he took against Apollo Creed? It was just a whole other focus. Before it was about training Rocky to beat anyone to reach the top. Once Rocky got there, it was about holding on to power as long as possible.