Rocky Balboa runs a gauntlet

[Coin Biter]

I think we're possibly being a bit too critical of Rocky Balboa as a fighter, simply because the fights in Rocky films do not in any way accord with how boxing fights go down in reality. In reality, professional boxers are adept at avoiding or at least reducing the impact of blows - they don't hang their heads out goofily to be hammered by absurdly telegraphed head shots

Yes, to anyone who has seen a boxing match, at least the first few Balboa films make him look like, technically, the worst boxer imaginable. However, that's not a reflection of how good Balboa is supposed to be in his fictional universe. It's only the first film which makes him out to be Chuck Wepner, a gutsy, over-the-hill, talented guy whose talents have been wasted, who nonetheless impresses against a Muhammad Ali-level fighter. Subsequent films make him out to be the world's best heavyweight - destructive in II, skilled in III, superhuman in IV.

In the Rocky fictional universe, which has among other implausibilities basically Terminator-level AI, Balboa is supposed to be a legendary fighter, who can take down obvious Muhammad Ali stand-in Apollo Creed, and Ivan Drago, whose punches are about three times as powerful as any actual living human fighter can dish out.

Given that this is supposed to take place in a boxing ring, I think we'd have to assume that Balboa's (apparently) great skills would be formidable against most human-level opponents. It's a slightly bizarre notion, but this means I think that he can beat someone like "real Jackie Chan", because while Jackie Chan is a good martial artist and Stallone is not, Rocky is supposed to be at the pinnacle of boxing greats, even though he might actually look slow and wholly without technique.

My view? He can probably get up to Matrix, but no further, cos Matrix is truly absurd.

[Cyke]

As against that, though, he's not particularly effective in Lethal Weapon 2, seemingly somewhat outclassed by a South African hitman (who he eventually defeats) and in Lethal Weapon 4 he is basically humiliated by Jet Li's vastly superior martial arts skills.

Just to note, the South African hitman threw a knife at Riggs' leg in an ambush before the fight started, effectively reducing Riggs to using one leg and keeping his head at waist level, creating an ideal target for the kickboxing hitman.

And losing to Jet Li is not shameful at all. He likely would have taken out Riggs at his prime all the same.

[Coin Biter]

Just to note, the South African hitman threw a knife at Riggs' leg in an ambush before the fight started, effectively reducing Riggs to using one leg and keeping his head at waist level, creating an ideal target for the kickboxing hitman.

And losing to Jet Li is not shameful at all. He likely would have taken out Riggs at his prime all the same.

He was also, mind you, losing to another policeman in a friendly boxing match in Lethal Weapon 4. There's no doubt he was in decline; hell, he spends most of the film saying that he's too old for this

But I don't think in any of the sequels that he is quite as formidable a hand-to-hand combatant as he was in the first.

[Syrile Demonthyst]

All the guys in this part of the list can only use their hands. And if you think that's too one-sided, then replace Rocky with Drago.

Hands or not, not a one of these guys is even remotely human.
Real-world Freddy is the weakest, if limited to a boxing glove and punches but he can actually fight at least. And survive decapitation.

The rest are absurdly over Rocky's paygrade.
Michael Myers is strong enough to walk through reinforced glass like it is made of air, tough enough to tank gunshots to his eyes and all it does is temporarily blind him.
Robocop is a freaking robot with armor.
Terminator is a terminator. Tanks shotgun shells.
On and on... but Ryu? Of all people.
Ryu can keep up with bullettimers, assuming he is not one himself, and fights with people who can bust islands...

[Bullet Sniper]

Hands or not, not a one of these guys is even remotely human.
Real-world Freddy is the weakest, if limited to a boxing glove and punches but he can actually fight at least. And survive decapitation.

The rest are absurdly over Rocky's paygrade.
Michael Myers is strong enough to walk through reinforced glass like it is made of air, tough enough to tank gunshots to his eyes and all it does is temporarily blind him.
Robocop is a freaking robot with armor.
Terminator is a terminator. Tanks shotgun shells.
On and on... but Ryu? Of all people.
Ryu can keep up with bullettimers, assuming he is not one himself, and fights with people who can bust islands...

But I thought we were talking about Drago now. Either way, do you still think real-world freddy can win?

[Syrile Demonthyst]

But I thought we were talking about Drago now. Either way, do you still think real-world freddy can win?

Drago lost to Rocky so...

[Bullet Sniper]

Drago lost to Rocky so...

But even if Rocky beat Drago due to superior soak and defenses, Drago still boasts a much higher attack-power than Rocky iirc. Which is why I think Drago might do better in this gauntlet.