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What mistakes did Ivan Drago make causing him to lose the match against Rocky Balboa?

posted 4 years ago by TMC-4 (19455)
8 replies | jump to latest

https://www.quora.com/What-mistakes-did-Ivan-Drago-make-causing-him-to-lose-the-match-against-Rocky-Balboa/answer/John-Cate-2

The same mistake that Apollo Creed made in his rematch with Rocky. Both he and Drago were way ahead on points going into the 15th round against him, but kept engaging Rocky and trying to knock him out.

Ivan also made the mistake at least once of having Rocky on the ropes in the final round and then retreating to the middle of the ring. But that wouldn’t have mattered if he had simply danced around the ring for three minutes and been content to win the decision. He already understood that he couldn’t break Rocky; he said as much in some of his comments earlier in the fight, between rounds. But he had physical advantages—he was much taller and had a longer reach, and he’d made Rocky take a frightful beating anytime he wanted to get inside, which Rocky had to do in order to hit Drago. It was clear Ivan had won most of the rounds, but couldn’t get Rocky out of there.

[–] Kowalski (59641) 4 years ago

HE AGREED TO FIGHT THE ITALIAN STALLION...THATS THE ONLY MISTAKE HE NEED REMEMBER.🙂

[–] zkash (24) 4 years ago

hahahaha yasssss

[–] Hans-Wilhelm (1320) 4 years ago

Yes.

Plus the actual beating each took would have killed a real person....100 + direct knock out punch blows to the head. Both should have died long before that.

[–] mitzibishi (1621) 4 years ago

He fought Rocky. That was his fatal mistake. His first mistake was killing Apollo Creed which sent Rocky Super Saiyan level 1000.

(Dang, somebody beat me to the punch on that fighting Rocky joke)

[–] Sandman81 (1502) 4 years ago

Drago HAD to knock Rocky out in the last round. Yes he probably would have won in an unanimous decision but he had already lost the respect of the Soviet leadership by allowing this tiny American win the respect and hearts of Russian people. By not knocking Rocky out, and especially if he avoided Rocky in the last round, he would come out of that fight in a lower status than he was before it, despite having won. He would have won the battle, but lost the war.

[–] ModernDayWarrior (114) 4 years ago

^Nailed it.

Drago failed after the 2nd round. Everything was on him having Rocky broke by the end of the first so he could go for the KO and the statement win. Ivan realized he was screwed once they went to the corner and he mentioned Rocko was "made of Iron," he knew he wouldn't be a bum to push around. Then Rock hit him with that hook and cut him open.. he was done for after that his rep was ruined and he never would have been the same.

It went from a boxing match to a fight and war of geo political importance and Drago had no way to handle it. Rocky represented a whole other style and worldview.. Ivan was broke as to fight it. He lost his mind and choked out his promoter which killed his rep too. The whole "I do it for me," rant was huge. Then it became a fight for his honor and the win; enough of an ego mistake to help Rocky get momentum enough to put him down for good. Ivan lost the same way Apollo did ironically.. if both had stayed away from Rocky they woulda won on points but their hubris brought them down.

[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Rocky's main talent was being able to wear down his opponent by letting them use his head as a punching bag. To beat him you have to go for points rather than the knock out. Drago could have done that as he had longer reach as stated in the OP.

[–] Tomiggo (176) 4 years ago

He didn't write the screenplay!