7. Rocky Vs. Clubber Lang 2: Rocky III
The third film of the Rocky saga finds Rocky on the ropes. The Italian Stallion hits rock bottom when the ferocious Clubber Lang steals his heavyweight crown. To make matters worse Rocky's long-time trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), dies shortly after the bout convinced that Rocky won the fight via a second round knockout (the opposite is true -- Lang downs Balboa by knockout in the second). It's up to Rocky's beloved wife Adrian and new found trainer Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to inspire Rocky to fight back and rediscover his hunger for glory, the thrill of the fight, the eye of the tiger. Rocky weathers Clubber's vicious onslaught in their rematch. Lighter on his feet and quicker with the jab, Rocky draws Lang into the third round. Because Lang usually finishes fights early Clubber finds himself gassed and outclassed. Rocky proceeds to pick Lang apart delivering his own knockout, regaining his heavyweight belt, and causing audiences the world over to start chanting : "Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!"