<P> In 1985, Apollo (43 years old), comes out of a five - year retirement to fight mammoth Soviet Olympic boxer Ivan Drago, who has come to the United States on behalf of the Soviet Union to enter the world of professional boxing . Not wanting the Soviets to appear superior to American fighters, the patriotic Apollo challenges Drago to an exhibition match and calls out Drago at the press conference that sets up their exhibition bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 31, 1985 . </P> <P> Highlighted by a pre-match rendition of "Living in America" by James Brown, Apollo enters the arena from a descending scaffold overhead, dancing to the music in his old red, white, and blue Uncle Sam outfit . With Rocky, Duke, and Paulie in his corner, Apollo is overly confident that he can dispense of Drago with ease . However, Apollo is not ready for the extreme size and strength of the Russian . After taunting the Russian and landing a number of ineffectual punches, Creed is pummeled badly in the first round . Rocky wants to stop the fight but Apollo refuses . Apollo adamantly tells Rocky not to stop the fight "no matter what...no matter what!" </P> <P> By the start of the second round, Drago pummels Creed with ease . Rocky again tries to stop the fight by throwing in the towel . Apollo tells Rocky not to stop the fight, giving Drago a chance to deliver a fatal blow (as Rocky drops the towel causing the fight to stop) to Apollo, who dies in Rocky's arms in the middle of the ring . Drago wins by technical knockout . </P> <P> An enraged Rocky then sets out to avenge Apollo's death by beating Drago in the Soviet Union, with the Soviet premier and the Politburo looking on . He succeeds as the film ends with Rocky winning the fight by knockout in the last round . </P>

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