Every Rocky Opponent Ranked From Worst To Best

Rocky III is the series turning point where the gritty sports drama of the first two films shifts into a goofier tone due to the excessive nature of the '80s. This is best represented in James 'Clubber' Lang who fights the Italian Stallion twice during the movie.

Unlike Rocky's opponents before and after him, Lang is the only one who manages to break his spirit and genuinely makes him afraid. Despite being a fighter all his life, Rocky becomes haunted by Clubber after he gives him a brutal beatdown.

Although he serves as a mirror of Rocky as an unknown boxer taking on the champion, Lang is portrayed as a clear-cut villain. Even after having understandable frustrations regarding Mickey refusing to let him fight Rocky despite being the number one contender, the film takes efforts in making Clubber antagonistic whether it's his rude attitude or harassing Balboa's wife, Adrian.

The reason the character works and is ranked high on this list, then, is due to Mr. T's performance and the lines given to him. Every piece of dialogue he utters is memorable and the character ends up being one that audiences love to hate.