Every Rocky Opponent Ranked From Worst To Best

Despite having only been introduced in the latest entry, Creed III, Damian 'Diamond Dame' Anderson earns the top spot as the best opponent in the series.

The character is Adonis Creed's childhood friend who is imprisoned for 18 years after defending his friend from an attack. Because of this, he loses his chance to become a boxer; a dream he seeks to reclaim once he is released from prison.

Already having a great 2023, Jonathan Majors is the key ingredient in making this character work. His body language paints a picture of a man who has lost his youth while his eyes show the pain and loss that Damian has suffered. This makes for an antagonist that is easy to understand and to an extent, more relatable than the more privileged Adonis.

That's not to say that Dame is an angel as throughout Creed III, we see his ruthless ambition to be the best boxer. From ordering the hit on Viktor Drago to exploiting his opponents' weaknesses through underhanded tactics, Anderson is as cruel as he is sympathetic.

Ultimately, Damian ends up being one of the most layered characters in the Rocky franchise and the best antagonist the series has given so far.