<P> Donnie meets Rocky at Rocky's Italian restaurant, Adrian's, named in honor of his deceased wife, and asks Rocky to become his trainer . Rocky is reluctant to return to boxing, having already made a one - off comeback at a very advanced age despite having suffered brain trauma during his career as a fighter . However, he eventually agrees . Donnie asks him about the "secret third fight" between him and Apollo just after Apollo helped Rocky regain the heavyweight title, and Rocky reveals that Apollo won . Donnie trains at the Front Street Gym, with several of Rocky's longtime friends as cornermen . He also finds a love interest in Bianca, an up - and - coming singer and songwriter . </P> <P> Donnie, now known as "Hollywood Donnie", defeats a local fighter, and word gets out that he is Creed's illegitimate son . Rocky receives a call from the handlers of world light heavyweight champion "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, who is being forced into retirement by an impending prison term . He offers to make Donnie his final challenger--provided that he change his name to Adonis Creed . Donnie balks at first, wanting to forge his own legacy . However, he eventually agrees . </P> <P> While helping Donnie train, Rocky learns he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma . He is unwilling to undergo chemotherapy, remembering that it was not enough to save Adrian when she had ovarian cancer . His diagnosis and the fact that his best friend and brother - in - law Paulie Pennino--Adrian's brother--has now died in addition to Adrian, Apollo, and his old trainer, Mickey Goldmill, further force him to confront his own mortality . Seeing Rocky shaken, Donnie urges him to seek treatment . </P> <P> Donnie fights Conlan at Goodison Park in Conlan's hometown of Liverpool, and many parallels emerge between the bout that ensues and Apollo and Rocky's first fight forty years earlier . First, before entering the ring, Donnie receives a present from Mary Anne--new American flag trunks similar to the ones Apollo and later Rocky wore . Additionally, to the surprise of nearly everyone, Donnie gives Conlan all he can handle . Conlan knocks Donnie down, but Donnie recovers to knock Conlan down for the first time in his career . Donnie goes the distance, but Conlan wins on a split decision (just as Apollo retained his title by split decision against Rocky). However, Donnie has won the respect of Conlan and the crowd; as Max Kellerman puts it while calling the fight for HBO, "Conlan won the fight, but Creed won the night ." Conlan tells Donnie that he is the future of the light heavyweight division . </P>

What type of cancer did rocky have in creed