"Rocky Balboa" Sylvester Stallone

About: Inspired by the film Rocky (1976) - a sports drama written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, a working-class Italian-American boxer in Philadelphia. The plot follows Rocky, a small-time club fighter and debt collector for a loan shark, who lives a modest life with little ambition. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) selects Rocky as an underdog opponent for a publicity stunt, Rocky seizes the chance to train rigorously under his manager, Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) at “Mighty Micks Boxing Gym”, and prove his worth.

Alongside his training, Rocky builds a romance with Adrian Pennino (Talia Shire), a shy pet store worker, which gives him emotional strength. The film culminates in an intense championship bout where Rocky, though not the winner, goes the distance against Creed, earning respect and self-respect.

The film’s cultural impact was profound, resonating as an ‘underdog story’ that captured the American Dream. Made on a modest $1 million budget, it grossed over $225 million worldwide and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Stallone’s authentic portrayal and the iconic training montage (see Video below), set to Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now,” became cultural touchstones, inspiring generations with the themes of perseverance and discipline.

Medium: Digital artwork by Louis Sidoli printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Matte Paper 

Frame: Wooden frame with matt paint finish and acrylic glass

Media: Watch Rocky theme tune and HD film tribute: