Italian Stallion
After Apollo Creed’s opponent is unable to attend the fight, Apollo comes up with the plan of giving an unknown underdog a chance to fight him. He does this in order to get even more publicity - and considers this a smart idea, believing it to be an easy fight. Ironically, the underdog, Rocky Balboa, ends up going the distance with Apollo and gives Apollo a tough fight, almost making him lose the title.
Chance
In the movie, we are shown how people don’t like Rocky as a boxer and don’t see his potential. The gym coach, Mickey, is also shown being angry at Rocky and untrusting of his potential. Ironically, Rocky is the one who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship and not those that were being favored over him.
Champion
Throughout the movie, we see Rocky struggling. We see him struggle to make money, to get recognition for his fights and his potential. But we constantly see Rocky putting the effort. On another hand, we only see Apollo Creed as a business person trying his best to gain publicity. We are never shown his training. Ironically, the champion of a sport centered around fighting is shown as a business person and never once shown training for his fight with Rocky Balboa.
Publicity
Apollo Creed is shown to care a lot for his publicity and his looks. Even the boxing commentators mention that they’ve never seen a fighter worried about his hair, in reference to Apollo Creed checking his hair before his match with Rocky. The whole purpose of the match is that Apollo will get a lot of publicity for offering an unknown fighter a shot at the championship. Ironically, the one to get the most publicity out of the fight turns out to be Rocky when he proves to be more than just an underdog.
