Rocky Balboa (film)

<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, the plot summary should be 400-700 words. -->

<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, the plot summary should be 400-700 words. -->

Sixteen years after his street fight with Tommy Gunn{{efn|As depicted in ''[[Rocky V]]'' (1990)}}, [[Rocky Balboa]], now approaching sixty years of age, is retired from [[boxing]] and lives a quiet life as a widower, having lost his wife Adrian to [[cancer]] four years prior. He now runs [[The Rye or the Kaiser|a small but successful Italian restaurant]] named after her, where he regales patrons with tales from his past. He also battles personal demons involving his grief over Adrian's death and his eroding relationship with his son Robert, now a moderately successful young corporate [[accountant]]. [[Paulie Pennino|Paulie]], Rocky's best friend and brother-in-law, continues to support him whenever he can, but is guilt-ridden over his past poor treatment toward his late sister and accuses Rocky of living in the past.

Sixteen years after his street fight with Tommy Gunn,{{efn|As depicted in ''[[Rocky V]]'' (1990)}} [[Rocky Balboa]], now approaching sixty years of age, is retired from [[boxing]] and lives a quiet life as a widower, having lost his wife Adrian to [[cancer]] four years prior. He now runs [[The Rye or the Kaiser|a small but successful Italian restaurant]] named after her, where he regales patrons with tales from his past. He also battles personal demons involving his grief over Adrian's death and his eroding relationship with his son Robert, now a moderately successful young corporate [[accountant]]. [[Paulie Pennino|Paulie]], Rocky's best friend and brother-in-law, continues to support him whenever he can, but is guilt-ridden over his past poor treatment toward his late sister and accuses Rocky of living in the past.

Late one night, Rocky meets a woman named Marie, who was once a troublesome young girl Rocky had escorted home thirty years earlier{{efn|name=orginal|As depicted in ''[[Rocky]]'' (1976)}}. Marie now is a single parent of a teenage son named Stephenson and nicknamed "Steps", born out of wedlock. Rocky's relationship with Marie quickly blossoms over the following weeks and he meets and bonds with Steps, providing him with a much-needed buffer for his anguish.

Late one night, Rocky meets a woman named Marie, who was once a troublesome young girl Rocky had escorted home thirty years earlier.{{efn|name=orginal|As depicted in ''[[Rocky]]'' (1976)}} Marie now is a single parent of a teenage son named Stephenson and nicknamed "Steps", born out of wedlock. Rocky's relationship with Marie quickly blossoms over the following weeks and he meets and bonds with Steps, providing him with a much-needed buffer for his anguish.

Meanwhile, on the professional boxing circuit, Mason "The Line" Dixon reigns as the undefeated yet unpopular [[Heavyweight champion|heavyweight world champion]], often ridiculed for having never fought a true contender. This leads to tension with the public and his promoters and encourages him to return to his roots: the small gym he first trained in and his old trainer, who sagely tells him that, inevitably, he will earn back his respect through a true opponent that will test him. [[ESPN]] later broadcasts a computer simulation of a fight between a younger Rocky and Mason{{snd}}likened to a modern-day version of [[The Super Fight]]{{snd}}that ends in a disputed [[Knockout|KO victory]] for Balboa, further riling the champ. In contrast, the simulation inspires Rocky to take up boxing again, an intention that goes public when he successfully renews his boxing license. Dixon's promoters pitch the idea of holding a [[Charity (practice)|charity]] [[Exhibition fight|exhibition bout]] at the [[Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino]] in [[Las Vegas]] to bolster Dixon's floundering popularity. In the midst of this chaos, Paulie is laid off from his job.

Meanwhile, on the professional boxing circuit, Mason "The Line" Dixon reigns as the undefeated yet unpopular [[Heavyweight champion|heavyweight world champion]], often ridiculed for having never fought a true contender. This leads to tension with the public and his promoters and encourages him to return to his roots: the small gym he first trained in and his old trainer, who sagely tells him that, inevitably, he will earn back his respect through a true opponent that will test him. [[ESPN]] later broadcasts a computer simulation of a fight between a younger Rocky and Mason{{snd}}likened to a modern-day version of [[The Super Fight]]{{snd}}that ends in a disputed [[Knockout|KO victory]] for Balboa, further riling the champ. In contrast, the simulation inspires Rocky to take up boxing again, an intention that goes public when he successfully renews his boxing license. Dixon's promoters pitch the idea of holding a [[Charity (practice)|charity]] [[Exhibition fight|exhibition bout]] at the [[Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino]] in [[Las Vegas]] to bolster Dixon's floundering popularity. In the midst of this chaos, Paulie is laid off from his job.

With some hesitation, both men agree to the match, creating a media buzz that stabs at Rocky's age and Dixon's credibility. Robert later makes an effort to discourage Rocky from fighting, blaming his own personal failings on his father's celebrity shadow, but Rocky rebukes him with a rousing speech: in order to succeed in life, "it ain't about how hard you hit{{snd}}it's about how hard you can ''get'' hit and keep moving forward!"; blaming others is the coward's way. The next day, Robert meets Rocky at Adrian's grave and reconciles with him, having quit his job to be at Rocky's side.

With some hesitation, both men agree to the match, creating a media buzz that stabs at Rocky's age and Dixon's credibility. Robert later makes an effort to discourage Rocky from fighting, blaming his own personal failings on his father's celebrity shadow, but Rocky rebukes him with a rousing speech: in order to succeed in life, "it ain't about how hard you hit{{snd}}it's about how hard you can ''get'' hit and keep moving forward!"; blaming others is the coward's way. The next day, Robert meets Rocky at Adrian's grave and reconciles with him, having quit his job to be at Rocky's side.

Rocky sets straight to training with [[Apollo Creed]]'s old trainer, Duke, who quickly surmises that the aging Rocky can only compete by building his strength and punching power as much as possible. Alongside Robert, Paulie, and Steps, he uses the same unorthodox training methods that he used for his first fight with Creed{{efn|name=orginal}}, such as using sides of beef as punching bags. On the day of the match, Dixon easily dominates the first round, only to injure his left hand on Rocky's hip in the second. Rocky then makes a dramatic comeback, knocking Mason down, and surprising the audience with his prowess and [[chin (boxing)|chin]] despite his age. The two combatants beat each other severely throughout the full 10 rounds, ending with both men still standing, although Rocky gets the last punch. Rocky thanks an appreciative Dixon for the match and tells him that he is a great champion, while the audience applauds the two fighters. The result is announced as Rocky exits the ring with his family and friends: a win for Dixon by a close split decision, but Rocky does not mind the outcome, and the crowd gives him a final standing ovation.

Rocky sets straight to training with [[Apollo Creed]]'s old trainer, Duke, who quickly surmises that the aging Rocky can only compete by building his strength and punching power as much as possible. Alongside Robert, Paulie, and Steps, he uses the same unorthodox training methods that he used for his first fight with Creed,{{efn|name=orginal}} such as using sides of beef as punching bags. On the day of the match, Dixon easily dominates the first round, only to injure his left hand on Rocky's hip in the second. Rocky then makes a dramatic comeback, knocking Mason down, and surprising the audience with his prowess and [[chin (boxing)|chin]] despite his age. The two combatants beat each other severely throughout the full 10 rounds, ending with both men still standing, although Rocky gets the last punch. Rocky thanks an appreciative Dixon for the match and tells him that he is a great champion, while the audience applauds the two fighters. The result is announced as Rocky exits the ring with his family and friends: a win for Dixon by a close split decision, but Rocky does not mind the outcome, and the crowd gives him a final standing ovation.

Rocky returns home and visits Adrian's grave again, thanking her for helping him in spirit and saying "Yo Adrian, we did it. We did it."

Rocky returns home and visits Adrian's grave again, thanking her for helping him in spirit and saying "Yo Adrian, we did it. We did it."