Could Apollo in his prime have beaten Clubber? - Rocky III (1982) Discussion

[–] whatsupyo 8 years ago

I think so, yes. He is overall a much better boxer than Rocky is, even though he improved Rocky alot for the rematch with Clubber, Apollo is still much more superior in overall skill level, footwork and combination punching. His defense was much better. Plus he showed he can take alot of punishment, as the 1st two fights with Rocky showed. Apollo could punch hard too, not as hard as Rocky but Clubber would not walk through him. I would say if Apollo vs. Clubber happened, it would be Apollo winning late in the fight, mid rounds TKO, say 8-9th round. I would be surprised if it went the distance of 15 rounds, I don't see Clubber's style as one that could last that far. Clubber can only win if he KO's Apollo early, 1st 4-5 rounds before he fades and loses stamina.

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[–] LeonardPine 8 years ago

Easily. Apollo was a proper boxer. Lang was just a brawler.

Was it a millionaire who said "Imagine no possessions"?

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[–] Matthew7819 8 years ago

He couldnt beat Rocky in his prime and Rocky was a brawler too, Clubber was nasty and pissed off at the world, he would have pounded Apollo and knocked him out cold, "You think i was tough? This guy will kill you!" it was obvious that Apollo while a great boxer could not hope to defeat Clubber and wouldnt come out of retirement to fight him, even in his prime he would have been worn down and knocked out.

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] creatorof2002 8 years ago

I would put my money on Apollo over Lang as long as Apollo fought like Mohammid Ali, dancing around, keeping his distance, gradually wearing Lang out then when Lang is tired out in the later rounds gaining the upper hand. If Prime Mike Tyson faced prime Mohammid Ali and Ali did it just right he would win.

And I believe that is what Apollo would do.

BUT, Lang had more raw power than Apollo and hit harder, if Apollo makes the mistake of going "toe to toe" and just trading punches then Lang would win.

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[–] nutmustardxx 8 years ago

Prime kid Dynamite...Tyson circa 86 to 88 would have annihilated prime Ali w in 2 rounds. The Tyson that faced Spinks would have beaten any heavyweight in history that day (Tysons trainer rooney said that) n I agree.

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[–] nutmustardxx 8 years ago

The problem is we don't know who clubber beat to get to the #1 contender status. Appollo had never even been knocked down before rocky dropped him. Apollo was a better and more cerebral boxer than Lang and seeing how he knew speed would beat Lang I think apollo would have beaten him. But Lang was real hungry...the first fight w rocky he would have beaten Apollo if he was matched w Apollo that day. But that's why they fight...Lang was badass.

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[–] creatorof2002 8 years ago

I said on a different thread that I think Rocky 3 would have been an even better movie if the final match had been longer. I feel the writers of the story rushed Lang tiring out too much. It felt anti climactic for Rocky to win in round 3 of what was scheduled to be a FIFTEEN round match.

I DO agree with the fight NOT going the full 15 rounds like the 2 Apollo fights and the Drago fight though. That also would have been a mistake because Drago was much tougher than Lang and if Rocky could only just barely beat Lang then him beating Drago becomes too much of a stretch.

However, a good compromise would have been for the fight to go a few rounds longer. Had Rocky won in round 5 or 6 (or 7 at the latest) instead of round 3 I think it would have been a better ending. Even round 4 would have been an improvement over how the movie was filmed.

I have an interesting question: Prime Mike Tyson vs Prime Bruce Lee and it is a STREET FIGHT not a boxing match.....

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[–] nutmustardxx 8 years ago

Bruce was only 135lbs...Mike was 220 easy, Mikes speeD and power would have sent bruces head flying ..Tyson would have knocked it off. But, if Bruce could have rushed him and avoided the ko, he coulda finished mike on the ground. Mike had alot of street fights before , and even when, he turned to boxing. Bruce did too. I say in 10 fights Bruce wins 3 and Mike wins 7, just based on the sized advantage.
I don't think Bruce had a ground game that was super good, had he been a world class bjj black belt that'D be a different story

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[–] megameme (370) 7 years ago

lol there is no way bruce lee beats mike tyson

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] MyloMan30 8 years ago

I'd put my money on Apollo.

Apollo taught Rocky everything he knew, and Rocky finished him in 3 rounds.

While I don't think Apollo would've gone the "HIT ME HARDER" route, I think he would be moving around too much for Lang to lay into him.

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[–] jsn_hylnd 8 years ago

If Clubber would learn to control his anger like in the first bout with Rocky he would have a chance. Apollo would play it smart and dance around. But if Apollo couldn't knock Rocky out, then I don't think he could knock Clubber out easily because CLubber has a hard jaw considering he took Rocky's best punches in the first rounds of both of their fights and it barely fazed Clubber. Clubber can definitely take a beating better than Apollo.

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[–] creatorof2002 8 years ago

I think when he is at his best Rocky has more endurance than ANYONE in this fictional universe including Clubber and he BARELY endured the beating from Creed.

Not only is my money on a prime Apollo it is quite possible that even the middle aged has been Apollo who got beaten to death by Apollo would have beaten Lang. Lang also would have stood no chance against Apollo.

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[–] jsn_hylnd 8 years ago

Clubber was a determined man, if he fought without anger like he did in his first fight with Rocky he might have a chance. All he needed was a little improvement such as learning to jab and duck more and if he did that he would be near unstoppable because we know he can take a massive beating from the amount of punches Rocky laid on him and Apollo is not near as strong as Rock so it would take a lot for Apollo to knock Clubber out, or maybe he would rely on punch.

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[–] creatorof2002 8 years ago

It is a myth that Clubber lacked stamina. The reason he tired so quickly is that he went into a rage and anger saps stamina fast. What he did with throwing everything full on was analogous to running a full on wind sprint. A boxing round is 3 minutes but what he did was as exhausting as running a 3 minute wind sprint. In a fifteen round match which lasts about an hour (counting breaks) you cannot go into a rage in the first few rounds.

Had he had a better ATTITUDE and been smarter he would have lasted way longer, he was in great shape BUT still not in AS good a shape as Rocky so he still would have lost it just would have happened in a round much later than round 3.

Apollo was not as strong as Clubber and going "toe to toe" exchanging punches Clubber would win, he hit harder than Apollo but if Apollo was smart about it and fought with a strategy like Mohammid Ali, dancing around, sticking jabs, gradually wearing him out he would win.

So if Apollo was careful my money would be on him.

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[–] jsn_hylnd 8 years ago

I agree Apollo would win if careful just not by knockout, by amount of punches alone. He should've done that with Rocky in the first sequel but then we wouldn't have got our happy ending. I just know a fight between Apollo and Clubber would have been a fight I'd pay to see.

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[–] creatorof2002 8 years ago

It is possible that even the over the hill version of him that died against Drago would beat Clubber. Clubber also would have stood no chance in hell against Drago so in that area they are equal, so its still quite possible that even Rocky 4 Apollo could have beaten Clubber.