Talk:Rocky Balboa

height and weight

Anyone know Rocky's height and weight?

For his weight watch the movies. It varies from fight to fight. Stallone stands anywhere from 5'6-5'11(depending on the source), though Rocky's height is never given in the films. Also, I think doing a page on Rocky in an in-universe style is a bad idea. For one, it's impossible to get the exact age of the characters and years correct because there are so many inconsistencies in the films. First and foremost, Rocky 1 and 2 are supposed to take place in 1975 and 1976, in which Rocky is 30 and 31 years old. This is all well and good, but once we get to Rocky 3 consistency is thrown to the wind. It's stated throughout the film that Rocky won the title three years prior. If Rocky 2 was supposed to have taken place in 1976, that would put Rocky 3 at around 1979. It also says in the movie that Rocky is supposed to be 34, which would further backup this claim. However, Mick's tombstone in the film puts his death at Aug. 1982. The inconsistencies start here, and continue into Rocky 4. From the looks of things, the movie starts out just where the third one left off, with Rocky coming home from his sparring session with Apollo. That same night, Rocky and Adrian celebrate their nine-year anniversary (a couple weeks early, she mentions). Going by the first two movies, this would put Rocky 4 at approximately 1985. So, in essence, anywhere from 3 to 6 years have passed since Rocky 3, completely throwing everything out of whack. There are many other minor inconsistencies throughout the films, but I feel like I've written enough to get my point across. Too many things are open to interpretation in the Rocky series, muddling any attempts to create an accurate timeline.

66.168.143.177 21:06, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Agreed. The age thing is impossible to calculate. According to the article, Rocky aged 5 years between the fight with Drago and the events in Rocky V, despite the fact Rocky V starts and finishes within a year of the end of Rocky IV. ( Rocky-Drago took place on Christmas, and Balboa fought Tommy Gunn soon after the following Christmas, as referenced by Tommy stopping by Rocky's house with Duke). Age references to be removed, except where specifically stated in one of the movies.

The fight in "Rocky Balboa" appears to occur early in 2006 (as Adrian is stated as having died on 11 Jan 2002, and the film starts on the four-year anniversary. I'm going to reword that line to more accurately reflect the information given in the film. Jimmyrabbitte 05:33, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

In the film "Rocky Balboa", During the weigh in, the announcer states: "Rocky Balboa, Two-Seventeen." I guess that means he's 217 pounds? At least in that particular point of time.Shardakar 07:41, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Not a documentary... People come on... way to much time on your hands! including me! but I say its an fun read. Thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.52.72.140 (talk) 04:46, 27 September 2013 (UTC)

Exhibition matches

Question: Correct me if i am wrong. But i thought that an Exhibition match doesn't count to ones' professional record? If this is the case then Rocky's Record should remain at 23 losses not 24 losses.

I think one way or another Rocky's record stands at 57-23 (51 KO). But nothing is concrete in the world of Rocky.

Can anyone with boxing related experience/knowledge clarify this? Shardakar 07:41, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Shardakar you are correct. Exhibitions are not counted on a professional boxing record. BoxingNut 17:09, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

To answer the question about whether or not the Mason Dixon fight actualy counts because it is an exhibition. That is open to debate and is very subjective. Yes, the fight is "labeled" an exhibition but it is often mentioned in the film that it is only "labeled" an exhibition match to be able to credibly set up such an absurd match up. So the bout may not realy be an exhibition afterall, it is just titled that way. The bout was scheduled for ten rounds and under sanctioned rules. Undisputedly, it is not a title fight or it is a non-title bout but that does not mean that the match does not count. Rocky just can not win the title. I think it would be up to the record keepers discretion on whether or not to count the match. Something similar happened a few months ago with Henery Maske in Germany before he fought Virgil Hill. He fought a semi-exhibition match for preperation for the fight against Virgil Hill. The fight was behind closed doors with no open ticket sales and only had a few special spectators. It was a private match but it was scheduled for ten rounds and under professional rules. The record keepers still have not decided if they will count the bout on Maskes and his opponent's pro record.

Someone had Rocky listed as having 5 losses, despite the fact that in "Rocky Balboa", HBO listed Rocky as having 23 loses.

Rocky's record is a bit confusing. For Example: (The end of the films) Rocky 1: 44-21 (38 KO), Rocky 2: 45-21 (39 KO), Rocky 3: 56-22 (50 KO), Rocky 4: 57-22 (51 KO), Rocky 5: no change, Rocky 6: (before the Dixon fight on the ESPN telecast) 57-23-1 (and a few extra KO's). The question is, Where did the draw and the extra loss come from?

One theory about the draw is that Rocky does climb back in the ring in between films against Tommy Gunn and earns a draw, another theory is that the draw in the exhibition against Thunder Lips is being counted and the third theory is that record keepers found an old forgotten bout on Rocky's record. The most credible theory is probably that Stallone just accidentaly added it on the record while writing the script.

The extra loss is a mystery too. Which can be attributed to 3 of the four reasons for the draw on Rocky's record as mentioned above. But the most plausible reason is that Stallone probably accidentally presented Rocky's final loss total before the end of the film thus before the Mason Dixon bout result.

I think one way or another Rocky's record stands at 57-23 (51 KO). But nothing is concrete in the world of Rocky.

Where did the draw come from? He drew against Apollo creed in the first movie, I guess it was simply omitted in subsequent films. --92.25.223.17 (talk) 02:26, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

The draw is from Rocky's fight with Thunderlips; none of your other theorys mke sense. As for the "extra" loss, you completly overlooked his first fight with Lang. And by the way, if an exibition resembles an actual match (i.e. Rocky vs Mason) than record keepers can decide if it should be counted or not. TheShadowCrow (talk) 03:32, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

Sources

The biography could use more sources (what is shown in which movie).

Agreed - where is his boxing record from? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.92.218.30 (talk) 06:21, 21 February 2012 (UTC)

Article

Not sure whether this article could be included in the article in its current format, but it might be useful should it be expanded at some point. HornetMike 20:12, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Is Rocky movies telling Rocky Marcianos story??? I meen Rocky Balboa = Rocky Marciano????

To answer your question, absolutely not. The only things the two have in common are first names and Italian-American heritage.

Fishtown mistake

Although the movies were filmed in the Kensington section, its a pretty well known fact that Rocky lives in South Philly in the movies. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 72.70.156.173 (talk) 01:29, 30 March 2007 (UTC).

How can Rocky have 74 wins if he's had 23 losses and 82 fights?

Balboa is not an italian surname

why they used it for an italian character?

http://gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/genera.html

Balboa is a Basque surname. There could be an interesting pulp novel about how Rocco's Basque great-great grandparent emigrated to Argentina (the place that received the most Basque immigrants), met an Italian girl, and they had to return to Italy with their firstborn to care for the wife's father that was badly injured in a battle against the Austrians. Otherwise, the surname Balboa has no business whatsoever in any part of Europe except the Basque country, and no business being confused with an Italian surname in the Americas. On the other hand, using a word that has zero chance to being an actual Italian person's surname is the equivalent of using 555-XXXX for all the phones: no actual person will be harassed. elpincha 13:53, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

When does Rocky die?

It's a ficticious surname and Rocky does not die in any of the films. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.65.137.242 (talk) 12:23, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I noticed that too (non-Italian surname) and I guess it was a simple but still funny mistake by Stallone, unless he intended to give Rocky that particular surname for some unreported reason.... Just out of curiosity, there is actually an Italian surname which originates from the Basque surname Balboa: it's Valboa, a very rare Italian surname that, as it happens in many other cases, has got an old Spanish/Basque origin (similar examples are Sances/Sanchez, Nugnes/Nuñez, Ivagnes/Ibáñez, Erriquez/Enriquez, Irrera/Herrera, etc). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.44.171.147 (talk) 01:58, 27 September 2012 (UTC)

Rewrite to Fix In-universe Style Problems

This article is in terrible need of a complete overhaul, mainly due to the fact that the majority of the article appears to be discussing an actual boxer as opposed to a fictional character. Thanks for any help in doing this!nf utvol (talk) 21:33, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

Seriously... the "record" is ridiculous, with the titles and such, especially with them linking back to the ACTUAL title's history.214.3.138.234 (talk) 19:01, 16 November 2010 (UTC)Steve

How come when I put rocky's mixed martial arts debut against tommy gunn in 1990 in his record my post was deleted?

A movie street fight and an MMA match are not the same thing... Also, just the fact that the boxing matches in these films are presented as a real fight history here is a mess. 214.3.138.234 (talk) 19:01, 16 November 2010 (UTC)Steve

Mixed martial arts didn't exist as a professional sport in the U.S. until 1993. --JHP (talk) 04:24, 30 July 2010 (UTC)

This record needs to go. It's completely unsourced. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.31.155.94 (talk) 19:32, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Name

What is the source for Rocky being named "Robert"?

Whilst his child is named after him, I am not so sure that this provides evidence of Rocky's real name (as it could equally be a "slip-up" as are prevalent in many of the Rocky Films.

In Italian, "Rocky" translates to "Rocco"... which is what Paulie calls Rocky. I havent seen him called Robert in the movies? Or am I missing something? 203.122.242.126 (talk) 04:41, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Robert is Rocky’s real name. He just goes by Rocky. Adrian’s real name is Adrianna. They both use alternate names. Their son in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, movies in the credits is named Rocky Jr. But Rock and Adrian never called him by that name or really any name at all. Rocky calls him kid. The the 5th movie their son is a lot for older and wiser. He probably liked the name Robert more than Rocky based on his personality 70.174.125.129 (talk) 14:33, 14 July 2023 (UTC)

"Rocky" is indeed usually derived from "Rocco" (as in the case of Marciano and Graziano etc)... but it's possible that Paulie is calling him "Rocko"/"Rock-O"... itself derived from "Rocky". It's certainly not unheard of for "Rocky" to be derived from "Robert" or "Roberto". --92.25.223.17 (talk) 02:24, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

Or Colavito. But this fellow is a generation or more past those athletes, and so would be more likely to be given an American (or anglicized) name. WHPratt (talk) 12:44, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

If I remember well, the priest who marries Rocky and Adrian in Rocky II mentions both Rocky's and Adrian's real names, which are Robert Balboa and Adrian Pennino. I guess that's the only scene when you get to hear Rocky's real name. It's also interesting to notice that Adrian's last name is taken after Talia Shire's mother's real maiden name (Italia Pennino).

(No actually the name Pennino comes from Talia Shire's GRANDFATHERS name Francesco Pennino)

No, the priest very clearly says "Rocky Balboa" both times that he mentions his name in the wedding scene. Rocky is never referred to as "Robert" in any of the movies or credits. As for his son's name, it was always "Rocky Jr." in the credits until the 2006 movie. In Rocky II, the baby playing his son (which was his real-life son, Seargeoh) was uncredited, but there was a scene in the movie where the characters discussed what to name him and Adrian asks, "What about after the father?" to which Rocky replies, "Rocky Junior? Come on, you really want to do that?" And Adrian says, "Yeah". In Rocky III the kid playing his son (Ian Fried) was credited as "Rocky Jr." In Rocky IV the kid playing his son (Rocky Krakoff) was also credited as "Rocky Jr." and his friend was credited as "Rocky Jr.'s Friend". In Rocky V, his son suddenly went by the name of "Robert" in the movie (even though Sage Stallone was still credited as "Rocky Jr."), which was just as inexplicable as his son magically being about 5 years older than he was in Rocky IV. The only Rocky movie which doesn't credit the kid as "Rocky Jr." is the most recent one, in which case Milo Ventimiglia is inexplicably credited as "Robert Jr."

In Rocky V when Rocky is talking to Tommy Gunn outside of Mighty Mick's Gym, Mr. George Washington Duke pulls up in his grey limo and as he's getting out he says "Mr. Robert Rocky Balboa." That's why Rocky said "yeah; WHAT" He was still talking with Tommy which is the yeah then heard what Duke said so replied WHAT. Which is why if you really listen to it you can hear the differences in his tone/volume while he says "yeah; WHAT?"

In any case, extrapolating that Rocky Balboa's real name is "Robert" based on his son being credited as "Robert Jr." in the 2006 "Rocky Balboa" movie is "original research", specifically, "synthesis", which is against Wikipedia's policy:

"Wikipedia articles must not contain original research. The phrase "original research" (OR) is used on Wikipedia to refer to material—such as facts, allegations, and ideas—for which no reliable, published sources exist.[a] This includes any analysis or synthesis of published material that serves to reach or imply a conclusion not stated by the sources."

There isn't even a law which requires a "Junior" to have the exact same name as his father in real life, much less in a fictional movie. – MaximRecoil (talk) 17:45, 3 August 2018 (UTC)

Big-time boxing has a tendency to re-name and re-cycle names. You'll find that the heavyweight champs known to us as Jack Sharkey, Jack Dempsey and Joe Walcott (and certainly others) were renamed in honor of earlier boxing stars. Any agile boxer named "Ray" will inevitably be tagged "Sugar Ray." WHPratt (talk) 18:30, 28 November 2014 (UTC)

Statue

Shouldn't their be a reference to the statue of this character, located on the steps in Philly? This is mentioned under Stallone's entry but not here. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.164.184.10 (talk) 23:52, 26 May 2010 (UTC)

Year of Rocky II fight

The article claims that the Rocky II fight occurred during Thanksgiving of 1976, but at about 1:37:00 into the movie when Rocky is entering the arena for the fight he comments on how nice the robe is compared to "last year". It seems to me that the fight has to be in 1977. A lot of time passes by during Rocky II. --JHP (talk) 04:22, 30 July 2010 (UTC)

That's correct, the fight has to be Thanksgiving, 1977. There's a little bit of time that goes by in 1976 before they get married, then they have a child (presumably conceived after marriage, otherwise that would be have been noted in a 1970's movie). Then Rocky gets into serious training after the child is born.

And, by the way, the Pontiac Firebird model that he buys wasn't available until 1979. But I think that's a minor goof. The fight doesn't happen that late. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.34.169.210 (talk) 07:21, 27 January 2014 (UTC)

Eye injury

I just watched all this.

In the second film (Rocky II) the main character has a problem with his eye and this problem governs his training and tactics for the re-match. But in subsequent films the problem is not referred to again. Was it fixed in some way? or is it in fact mentioned? or are the script writers really that lazy?

---> Possible answer: I always thought this was alluded to in Rocky III when Paulie says "You fixed your face all handsome". Implying that he had work done and may have had the retina detachment surgery he required. Since this was something being done by real boxers in the late 80's, it is possible that either techniques changed or opinions did. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.195.131.10 (talk) 15:50, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

Rocky learned how to fight right handed which protected his bad eye. His eye was no longer a problem. Also, between the second and third movie Sylvester Stallone got plastic surgery to look more like “Rocky” or what ever. That is why Paulie said that line in the beginning of Rocky 3 70.174.125.129 (talk) 14:42, 14 July 2023 (UTC)

Also why is no reference made to the eye problem in the synopsis of the second film here? 62.232.34.3 (talk) 07:17, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Infobox image. Free equivalent

File:Rocky Balboa.jpg

Deleted, photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasethebass/3225604702/

Hi there, dear Rocky fans. What about to change the photo in the infobox to the following one? Looks like real, isn't it? – George Serdechny 10:45, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Its a photo of a copyrighted toy and as such not appropriate for Wikimedia projects outside of fair use. commons:COM:DW#I know that I can't upload photos of copyrighted art (like paintings and statues), but what about toys? Toys are not art!. Under fair use for this article any screenshot or promotional poster will be better than a photo of a toy. --Martin H. (talk) 11:54, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

$106 in bank on Stallone's 29th birthday

Stallone was quoted as having only $106 in the bank on his 29th birthday in 1975. That sum had much more purchasing power in 1975 than it currently does. That $106 would be equivalent to $600.21 today, a week's take-home pay for a decently-paid blue-collar worker in Philadelphia. Bill S. (talk) 08:43, 21 October 2011 (UTC)

Creed is out soon!

Please use spoiler tags, accordingly. It is out in America before my native of Great Britain.82.42.131.52 (talk) 11:26, 8 September 2015 (UTC)

We do not use spoiler warnings. Please see Wikipedia:Spoiler. If you don't wan to know the plot of a film, I would suggest not reading abot the plot in an encyclopedia. - SummerPhD^v2.0 04:28, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Rocky Original?

I always thought Sylvester Stallone wrote this story himself. However, it seems to be a copy of the 1956 movie with Paul Newman, "Somebody up there Likes Me." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.50.201.176 (talk) 18:07, 10 September 2015 (UTC)

The REAL Rocky Balboa (NOT Chuck Wepner)

A suggestion: should the article mention the fact that there actually was a boxer named Rocky Balboa? I am NOT talking about Chuck Wepner. I am talking about a real live boxer whose name actually was Rocky Balboa. He was a small guy, maybe a bantamweight, I don't remember his exact range, and I watched him on Friday Night Fights some time in the 1980s or 90s. I have tried to look him up, but (not surprisingly) all I get when I search for him is stuff about the movie, and about Chuck Wepner. Very frustrating. Does anyone else out there in Wikipedia-land remember the real Rocky Balboa? IF yes, please reply on my TALK page. Thanks! HandsomeMrToad (talk) 08:18, 1 August 2016 (UTC)

trolls

Someone changed so many false things about this character page, and it seems nobody notices it. It's obvious they are trolling. Isn't there anyone who can fix this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 139.195.179.238 (talk) 02:20, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Nationality

It was never said that he had Italian citizenship which officially makes him disqualified to be considered an Italian in legal terms. --Scarslayer01 (talk) 00:18, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

Not everybody who is Italian has Italian citizenship. He never lived in Italy 70.174.125.129 (talk) 14:47, 14 July 2023 (UTC)

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