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Fans and followers have already seen the trailers for the third edition of the ‘Creed’ franchise. Slated for a March release, it will be the first in the hugely successful ‘Rocky’ and ‘Creed’ franchises to screen without Sylvester Stallone. Undoubtedly, a huge chunk of fans and followers have been disappointed with the development. The ‘Rocky’ series commenced in 1976 and has seen six successful installments. At the same time, its offshoot, ‘Creed,’ began its journey in 2015. There’s not a boxer worth his salt or someone aspiring to pick the gloves who Sly Stallone’s characters have not inspired.

The very fact that the movie’s soundtrack, pics, and montages hit a home run with the millennials and the generation that followed proves its neverending universality and widespread acceptance. An array of fansites time and again share an old and rare pic from the franchise on social media platforms. A flurry of reactions and likes follows, often going into hundreds if not thousands.

A blast from the past to the fans’ delight

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For instance, a rare pic from one of the ‘Rocky’ movies is shared over Facebook. As much as it’s trying to find traction among fans and followers, what is not to be missed is the rarity of the snap. Especially the person standing behind Stallone may jog the memory of many a fan.

User ‘Rocky Balboa’ shared a photograph from ‘Rocky V.’ In it, the person standing alongside Sly is none other than former WBO Heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison.

More than a hundred have already given a thumbs up for this rare treat. After all, when do you come across a reel-life champion standing shoulder to shoulder with a real-life champion?

via Getty

Tommy ‘The Duke’ Morrison was active from 1988 to 1996. He retired after winning the bout against Marcus Rhode. Though he staged a comeback eleven years later, after participating in two fights, he bid goodbye to the ring for good. The six feet and two inches tall orthodox boxer, who fought the likes of George Foreman and Lennox Lewis, passed away on September 1, 2013, due to multiple medical complications.

Sylvester Stallone, the legend

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In ‘Rocky V,’ he played the crucial role of Tommy ‘The Machine’ Gunn. ‘Rocky Balboa’ trains ‘Gunn’ initially, but later lured by a hideous promoter, he ends up fighting the reigning champion ‘Union Cane,’ incidentally played by another real-life boxer Michael Williams. Eventually, widespread public disapproval results in ‘Gunn’ fighting his former trainer and mentor, ‘Balboa,’ on the street and losing it for good.

Read More: “Disappointed That It’s Not…”: Fans React as Sylvester Stallone Dumps Forgotten Pictures Ahead of New Reality Series

It’s a different matter that critics and fans severely panned the movie released on November 16, 1990. Reportedly it left Stallone unhappy with the outcome. At the box office, it raked in barely $120 million globally, as per Forbes. It is considered the least popular and money-spinning project of the otherwise hugely successful franchise. Sixteen years later, the sixth edition, ‘Rocky Balboa,’ came, directed by Sylvester Stallone.

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What is your take on the photo? Do share your views and thoughts with us in the comments below.

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