Every Rocky Opponent Ranked From Worst To Best

Rocky V is often considered the scrappy of the series and undeservingly so. Though it is cruel to put the Italian Stallion back into poverty, the film does try to return to its roots after the goofiness of Rocky III and IV. One way it does this is with its antagonist, Tommy 'The Machine' Gunn who, like the movie, is interesting in concept but flawed in execution.

The young man is taken by Rocky under his wing and slowly becomes a formidable contender. A budding boxer with a dark side as he imagines fighting his father during every match, Tommy is soon influenced by George Washington Duke, an unscrupulous promoter who promises him fame and fortune. Gunn then leaves his mentor and effectively becomes the main antagonist of the film.

Played by the late Tommy Morrison, the character is given a decent backstory and is likeable during the first half of the film. It is the second half where he loses all dimension and becomes a petulant brat eager to knock the living daylights out of Rocky.

Had they kept Rocky V's original ending where he and Balboa reconcile, audiences would have been more receptive to the character.