If there was a gun to my head and I had to choose my favorite installment of the Rocky franchise; it would definitely be part 3.
Mr. T’s performance makes the film so unintentionally hilarious. To this day watching Clubber’s training montage brings me to tears. Lang’s game plan for every fight revolved around hooks and hooks alone. A memorable scene that’s always worth a chuckle is when Apollo is helping Rock train for his rematch with Clubber.
In the sparring session, Creed’s emulating Lang by teeing off on Balboa; with you guessed it, hooks.
He’s hookin’, he’s hookin’, he’s hookin’, DAMN ROCK; COME ON! WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOU?!
Creed should have followed up with, that’s all he throws!
The clip below is a heavyweight boxing bout between Ruslan Chagaev & Lucas Browne.
It’s almost common knowledge that counters add power to your punches. Chagaev misses with an overhand left, tries to follow up with a right hook, but is countered with a shovel hook. The blow connects cleanly and he’s sent tumbling to the canvas. Although he’s able to avoid being counted out, Chagaev is visibly less nimble and completely in defensive mode.
With his mobility compromised, Chagaev remains against the ropes essentially becoming a stationary target. There’s blood in the water and Browne swarms his wounded opponent. Browne channeled his inner Clubber Lang and followed up with hooks and plenty.
Browne immediately fired 6 consecutive right hooks; because Chagaev could not intelligently defend himself the bout was called off by the referee. The fight finishing barrage saw Browne throw 19 power punches; 2 uppercuts and 17 hooks. 4 of the 17 hooks came from Lucas’ lead hand, the other 13 came from his rear power hand.
