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Sylvester Stallone Drops Rare Snaps Prior to Amassing $400 Million Net Worth

Published 04/01/2023, 10:00 AM EDT

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American actor Sylvester Stallone strikes at a punching bag in a boxing ring while his coach, Burgess Meredith (1908 – 1997), watches during training at a gymnasium in a still from the film, ‘Rocky,’ directed by John G. Avildsen, 1976. Stallone wears a ‘WIN “ROCKY” WIN’ T-shirt. (Photo by United Artists/Courtesy of Getty Images)

The Rocky series is often credited with instilling a love for boxing in the hearts of cinemagoers. Moreover, the franchise made Hollywood superstar, Sylvester Stallone, who essayed the role of the protagonist, Rocky Balboa, a household name. It can even be said that the role catapulted him to the pedestal of Hollywood stardom. However, the journey to the creation of this iconic series was a rather difficult one. Stallone recently shared photographs showcasing his path to becoming ‘The Italian Stallion’.

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The first Rocky movie was released in the year 1976. Stallone shared a series of photographs that showed his younger self working on the movie’s script. Additionally, the photos also showed him training in preparation for the role. It is worth mentioning that the producers initially did not want Stallone to play Balboa. However, he managed to convince them while also taking a major pay cut. But, the pay cut didn’t worry Stallone much.

In an interview with Michael Watson, Stallone credited the Muhammad Ali vs Chuck Wepner showdown as an inspiration for the series. He said, “I saw a man called ‘The Bayonne Bleeder’ fight the greatest fighter who ever lived. And for one brief moment, this supposed stumblebum turned out to be magnificent. And he lasted and knocked the champ down. I thought if this isn’t a metaphor for life.”

Rocky went on to pave the way for five sequels, and also the spinoff Creed series. The latest addition Creed III even had one of the biggest openings in sports movie history.

Sylvester Stallone evokes a response from fans with his post

Boxing fans were elated to see Stallone’s journey to essaying the role of the iconic Rocky Balboa. In fact, a lot of fans took to the comments to share their thoughts about the same.

A fan named Lorenzo Antonucci wasted no time in exclaiming, “THE KING OF KINGS!”

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Similarly, Filipa Henriques opened up about their admiration for the legendary character. The user said, “Rocky will forever be one of the most legendary characters!! Moves generations around the world!”

Meanwhile, a few users commended his journey. Jim Kwik mentioned, “Inspiring reminder that big things have small beginnings. Every pro was once an amateur.”

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In the same vein, Laura Ann said, “Pure determination and hard work really paid for you. You can see the uncertainty of the outcome in these pictures. But boy, what an outcome!!!”

Lastly, an account named The Rocky Files added, “It’s all in the eyes. This is what writers look like on the eve of revealing their souls… their guts. It’s all worry, concern, and uncertainty.”

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With these responses, there is no denying that the character remains timeless in the hearts of fans. What are your thoughts on Stallone’s post? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch This Story: Muhammad Ali by Will Smith, Rocky Marciano by Sylvester Stallone, and Other Great Biopics on Boxing Legends

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Written by:

Joshua Ben Joseph

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Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer for EssentiallySports. He started his career as an editorial cartoonist and holds a BFA degree with a specialization in Animated Filmmaking and Screenwriting from AISFM, Hyderabad. An avid lover of boxing history, Joshua believes his writing extends his lifelong adoration for combat sports.
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Edited by:

Shibu Immanuel