<P> Apollo Creed first appeared in the 1976 Oscar - winning film Rocky as the charismatic, intelligent, and undefeated 33 - year - old World Heavyweight Champion . A planned Bicentennial fight against number - one contender Mac Lee Green was scheduled for January 1, 1976, which Creed gladly hypes whenever someone places a microphone in front of him . However, Green hurts his left hand in training, and when none of the other top - ranked contenders, such as Joe Czak and Buddy Shaw, step up to face the champion, Creed responds with a promotion that will generate huge publicity . He will offer an unknown local fighter an opportunity to battle for the title in a match in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . </P> <P> Upon reviewing the local boxers in Philadelphia, Creed is drawn to a club fighter named Rocky Balboa because Balboa is Italian and has a catchy nickname, "The Italian Stallion". Creed also explains his choice by saying: "Who discovered America? An Italian, right? What better way to celebrate its 200th birthday than to get it on with one of his descendants?" Creed brushes off the idea of the left - handed Balboa giving him a fight, pledging to knock him out in three rounds . In spite of his trainer's concern when he sees Balboa in a television interview, training by punching sides of beef in a meat - packing plant, Creed puts more effort into giving everyone a good show rather than training for the bout . When the match takes place, Creed dresses up like both George Washington and Uncle Sam in the pre-fight festivities (with his matching trademark "stars and stripes" boxing shorts) and is in a jovial mood until Balboa knocks him down in the first round with a single uppercut, the first time Creed has been knocked down in his career . He then endures a gruelling 15 - round fight with Balboa, who gets to his feet after Creed takes him down with an uppercut in the 14th round in what appears to be the end of the match . This was the first time anyone had ever taken the champion the full 15 rounds . </P> <P> Both fighters are beaten, bloodied, and bruised by the end of the bout--Balboa with severe eye damage and Creed with internal bleeding . Creed gains a controversial split decision victory, and neither fighter wants a rematch, at least at that moment . </P> <P> In the second film, Creed immediately demands a rematch in the hospital ER after the fight . In fact, he challenges Rocky to finish the fight right there . Creed's desire for a rematch with Balboa intensifies when it becomes clear that the prevailing public opinion is that Creed had been paid to intentionally carry Rocky for the 15 - round distance instead of knocking him out early in the fight . Eager to change minds and ignoring the pleas of his staff, Creed challenges Balboa to a second fight on Thanksgiving Day, 1976 . He uses various humiliation tactics to coax Balboa out of retirement . Rocky had married his girlfriend Adrian after getting out of the hospital from the first fight . Creed insists at the press conference that he would "drop him like a bad habit" and tells Rocky when he leaves, "Come November, you're mine!" In a press interview during training, he also insists that Rocky "cannot last five minutes in the ring with a superior athlete like me!" Creed plows through sparring partners and trains harder than ever before, with the intention of punishing Balboa for the embarrassment eleven months earlier . Mickey trains Rocky to become faster by chasing and catching a chicken . </P>

Who won the first fight between rocky and apollo creed