Creed (2015)

In 1998, Adonis “Donnie” Johnson, the son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed via an extramarital affair, is serving time in a Los Angeles youth detention center when Creed’s widow, Mary Anne, visits and offers to take him in. In 2015, Donnie is in Tijuana, preparing for his fight in an amateur boxing bout hosted in a bar. Upon returning from his latest fight, Donnie resigns from the Smith Boardley Financial Group to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer. Donnie auditions at Los Angeles’ elite Delphi Boxing Academy, managed by family friend Tony “Little Duke” Evers Jr., the son of Apollo’s trainer Tony “Duke” Evers, but is turned down. This rejection is further emphasized as Donnie is beaten in a sparring match by light heavyweight division first contender Danny “The Stuntman” Wheeler after he publicly challenges the whole gym to prove himself, betting his 1965 Ford Mustang that no one can get a clean head shot on him. Mary Anne vehemently opposes his aspirations, remembering how her husband was killed in the ring by Ivan Drago thirty years ago. Undaunted, Donnie travels to Philadelphia in hopes of getting in touch with his father’s old friend and rival, former heavyweight champion, Rocky Balboa.

Donnie meets Rocky at Rocky’s Italian restaurant, Adrian’s, named in honor of his deceased wife, and asks Rocky to become his trainer. Rocky is reluctant to return to boxing, having already made a one-off comeback at a very advanced age despite having suffered brain trauma during his career as a fighter. However, he eventually agrees. Donnie asks him about the “secret third fight” between him and Apollo just after Apollo helped Rocky regain the heavyweight title, and Rocky reveals that Apollo won. Donnie trains at the Front Street Gym, with several of Rocky’s longtime friends as cornermen. He also finds a love interest in Bianca, a deaf up-and-coming singer and songwriter. Donnie, fighting under his biological mother’s surname, Johnson, and the fight name “Hollywood”, defeats local fighter Leo “The Lion” Sporino, which upsets the opposing corner. This leads to the opposing side leaking the news that Donnie is Creed’s illegitimate son. Rocky receives a call from the handlers of world light heavyweight champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan, who is being forced into retirement by an impending prison term. He offers to make Donnie his final challenger—provided that he legally change his surname to Creed. Donnie balks at first, wanting to forge his own legacy. However, he eventually agrees.