Despite all the training with Apollo Creed, Rocky beats Lang by going against everything Creed taught him and just by fighting his own style anyway ("Man, what the hell are you doing?!").
shareWell, yeah.
But Rocky was still a better fighter for Apollo's involvement. Even while doing the rope-a-dope with Clubber he was able to (mostly) slip Clubber's punches better than his first fight. His footwork was also better.
Apollo helped him get his "Eye of the Tiger" back. Aside from being in the best shape of his career, Rocky had the swagger and determination to not be intimidated by Clubber Lang.
shareRocky was speedier in his second fight with Clubber and the commentators expressed surprise.
I think that was the benefit he got from Apollo.
"Rocky beats Lang by going against everything Creed taught him and just by fighting his own style anyway"
No, he uses both Creed's technique and his own strategy to beat Lang. In the first round and first part of the second round it was 100% Creed's technique. Then he didn't use any technique at all for the rest of the second round; he just stood there and let Lang wail on him with the goal of tiring him out. In the third round he did more of the same until Lang was sufficiently tired out, and then he used Creed's technique to KO him. He never once used his own fighting style in the match; he switched back and forth between Creed's style and no style at all.
Creed helped him get the eye back, man.
The eye of the tiger.
That was more important than any fighting techniques Apollo taught him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4