<P> Balboa gets his big break when the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed decides that he wants to give an unknown fighter a chance to fight for the title after his intended challenger, Mac Lee Green, broke his hand while training . Creed was told no other contender was available for a fight on New Years Day, which is only a month away in commemoration for the United States Bicentennial, it was inferred by Creed, with the accompanying worldwide audience . Creed chooses Rocky because he likes Balboa's nickname,' The Italian Stallion' . </P> <P> After getting picked by Apollo, Balboa reunites with his estranged trainer, Mickey Goldmill, who convinces Balboa that he can help get him prepared for this match . Mickey reveals that his career never got anywhere either, because he didn't have a manager, and he didn't want the same thing to happen to Rocky . At the same time, Balboa begins dating Adrian . Rocky helped Adrian to become more self - confident and stand up for herself . Rocky confides in Adrian before the fight that though he figured he wouldn't win, he wanted to at least "go the distance ." </P> <P> On January 1, 1976, at the Philadelphia Spectrum, Balboa has his match Creed, who didn't take the fight seriously during training . In the first round, Rocky knocks Creed down, the first time he had ever been knocked down in his career, and Creed breaks Rocky's nose, also for the first time in his career . Creed soon realizes that, although Balboa doesn't have his skill, he could deliver crippling, sledge - hammer like punches, and was stubbornly determined to keep fighting . The match becomes a long and grueling battle for both men . Rocky was almost knocked out in the 14th round, but managed to get back up, and deliver some hard body shots, breaking Creed's ribs just before the bell . The 15th round finally began, and Rocky managed to pummel Creed until the bell rang . Although Creed wins the match by a split decision, it was the first time an opponent has lasted the full 15 rounds against him . Both men, battered beyond belief, agree that there would be no rematch . Rocky was fine with this as he only wanted to go the distance with Creed . After the match, Adrian climbed into the ring and embraced Rocky saying, "I love you!" </P> <P> After the match, Creed changes his mind and demands a rematch under the stress of being humiliated by the press for failing to beat Balboa convincingly, as well as his own knowledge that he didn't give his best in the fight . Creed demands a rematch with Balboa, stating that he would fight him' anywhere, any place, anytime' to prove to the world that Balboa's feat was merely a fluke . Rocky initially declines and retires from boxing, having surgery for retinal detachment, a condition that could lead to permanent blindness . He marries Adrian, who convinces him to live outside boxing . However, Rocky, a grade - school drop - out, soon realizes that he has no white - collar skills beyond the eighth grade, and in fact, he can barely read . The money he made in his real first match is easily and quickly frittered away, so Adrian re-claims her part - time job at the J&M Tropical Fish pet store . At first, Rocky seems to be unaffected by Apollo's smear campaign, but his inexperience with money causes him to run into financial troubles . Rocky struggles to find employment with decent pay, where he is fired from a commercial studio, turned down on an office job, and even laid off at the Shamrock Meat Packing facility . Despite Adrian's objections, after Apollo insults Rocky on national television and the newspaper, he agrees to the rematch . Without Adrian's support, however, Rocky becomes greatly discouraged, and could not draw any concentration into his training whatsoever, leaving Mick frustrated and worried . The now - pregnant Adrian goes into mental labor on the job due to over stress, and slipped into a coma after giving birth to her first child, Robert Jr . When Adrian is out of the coma, she promises her full support to Rocky . Together, Mickey and Rocky train hard, focusing on Rocky's speed and improving his right - handed punching (Rocky being a southpaw). At the same time, Apollo also focused on his training, taking this match much more seriously than the first one . The rematch is set for Thanksgiving . The match goes on for the full 15 rounds, with both Balboa and Creed falling to the canvas after Balboa lands a succession of left hands . Referee Lou Fillipo exercises his 10 - count to the limit, and as both Creed and Balboa struggle to get back up, Creed falls back down in exhaustion . Rocky is able to get back up, from sheer determination and beat the 10 - count, winning the rematch by knockout, thus becoming heavyweight champion of the world . </P>

Who won the fight in the first rocky