As a little kid, I always referred to this guy as "the guy with the stick in his mouth" - This was Rocky's other manager and/or cut-man.
Just wondering what (in the storyline at least) became of him after Mickey's death? I do know Apollo and Duke took over managerial duties for Rocky after Mickey's death, but why wouldn't Al (the cut-man) have remained in the loop, perhaps instead of Paulie?
Any thoughts on this?
He died.
shareI think once Mickey died, Al felt he didn't have to be there anymore. There might've been a cut scene where Al leaves Rocky, thinking Rocky is no longer going to fight, or since Apollo and Duke are going to be training him, he doesn't have to be a part of it.
Paulie, remember, is Rocky's brother-in-law, so Rocky had to insist on him being there.
Rocky was planning on retiring after the first Clubber fight anyways. Then when he lost the title, and Mickey died, he probably figured they were done and either moved on to another fighter or retired himself.
Remember Mickey brought him in to be in Rocky's corner for the first Apollo fight. He probably only expected it to be a one-time thing. Then he came back for the rematch, and Rocky won so he stuck around for his title reign.
Most boxers with long careers will change trainers, corner men, and promoters at some point in their career, and for a number of reasons. It might not be anything personal, just they wanted to fight a different style, or maybe they just felt they needed to hear a different voice. As was the case with Rocky heading into the second Lang fight. He wanted to fight in different style and Duke/Apollo were better suited to train him.