Rocky in the Hall of Fame

[ScruffDog]

The Boxing Hall of Fame has just induced the newest members to their Hall of Fame. This year’s class has Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Rocky Balboa. Yep, Sylvester Stallone will be in the Boxing Hall of Fame for his role as the Italian Stallion.

Is this right? If you ask the average person to name a boxer, other than Ali, most people will say Rocky. But he is a fictional character, how can he get in to the Hall of Fame. You can make the argument that he did to a lot for boxing, but really, I think the Rocky movies gave you the wrong image of a boxing match. How may fights have you seen that were anywhere close how the fights went down in Rocky? The answer is none.

I think to only reason the Stallone is getting in is because boxing is getting killed finically, and this is some good publicity for the sport.

So what do you think, should Rocky be in the Boxing Hall of Fame?

 

[klunderbunker]

Sure he should be. Like you said, people say Rocky when asked to think of a boxer. He's the most famous sports character in the history of films and he made boxing a bigger deal that it would be without it. I have no problem with him being in the Hall of Fame. So what if he was a fictional character? He did a lot for boxing. Who cares if said boxing was on film rather than in an actual ring? This is perfectly fine.

 

[INDYjon22]

I have absolutely zero problems with it. Sure, you may be right that he is only getting in because Boxing is not as popular as it once was and he brings some big name value, but to be fair, so does Mike Tyson. Rocky had a huge impact on the sport of boxing when it came out and is very iconic with the sport. He may not have been a literal fighter but the character was just so special. That said, he should not be included with the actual boxers. He should be in the celebrity wing, much like WWE has a celebrity wing in their Hall of Fame. His name does not need to be listed with Ali, Foreman, or Marciano. That would just be silly. But, I do believe he is worthy of a spot in the HOF somewhere.

 

[ScruffDog]

I understand why most people think Rocky should be in the HOF. To me putting Rocky in the HOF is like putting Rudy into the Collage Football HOF. Rudy is just like Rocky, another iconic figure for Hollywood, but in Rudy’s case, he was actually a real person.

How would you feel if you were a Boxer who busted you ass, got you face bashed in for years in the ring, earned your spot in the HOF through all the blood you spilt and body’s you KO, and in Tyson’s case ears bitten off. Now some actor who is pretending to do all the things you did get into the HOF.

If I were a Boxer I would be pissed off, but I’m not so I don't really care, but I can see how this could be insulting to the guys who are in the HOF.

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

ScruffDog, you sir are correct.

All this does is make a complete joke out of the boxing hall of fame, and it pretty much offends any borderline hall of fame Boxer right down to new up and coming boxers. Why even set the hall of fame as a goal when you could just play on boxer on TV and get into the H.O.F

It's boxing though, so nobody really cares. They basically just lowered themselves to the WWE stadart for the Hall of Fame.

 

[INDYjon22]

ScruffDog, you sir are correct.

All this does is make a complete joke out of the boxing hall of fame, and it pretty much offends any borderline hall of fame Boxer right down to new up and coming boxers. Why even set the hall of fame as a goal when you could just play on boxer on TV and get into the H.O.F

It's boxing though, so nobody really cares. They basically just lowered themselves to the WWE stadart for the Hall of Fame.

How so? I equate it to a commentator getting inducted. They may never have played the sport, but it does not mean they don't deserve to be that respective Hall of Fame. Their voice is iconic with whatever sport or whatever team and they get in. Rocky is the same, but you guys are just hung up on it being a celebrity. Don't focus so much on him being in the actual fighter section of the boxing Hall of Fame because that would be stupid of them to do. He would or should only be in a celebrity wing. My example may be a little shit but it makes sense to me.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

I'm fine with it, though I would wonder if any mention will be made to (Bayonne NJ's own) Chuck Wepner, about whom the original Rocky film is rumored to be based. Wepner took Muhammad Ali the distance despite being an unremarkable, and quite frankly fat and homely looking man from a small blue collar NJ town.

Rocky for years was the greatest sports figure in Philadelphia - and he's not even real. That's as much sad for people in Philly as it is remarkable for Stallone and the Rocky character. Do you all mean to tell me that the Rocky films didn't do good things for boxing?

This doesn't mean I think Hulk Hogan should be in the amateur wrestling hall of fame because he may have inspired kids to take up wrestling. But Rocky became the most recognized name in boxing history despite not being real. Ok, ali and Tyson are above him. But if you ask a random fan to tell you the first three names that pop into their heads when you say boxing, they'll probably say "Ali, Tyson, Rocky."

 

[Gregor_Samsa]

I'm a huge boxing fan but I've never really cared about Hall of Fames in any sport. The truly great athletes in their respective sports will always get in unless they bet on their sport or took P.E.D's.

Rocky in the hall of fame? Eh. He's going on in with guys who truly deserve to be there like the aforementioned Tyson, Cesar Chavez and the unmentioned but truly exceptional Kostya Tszyu.

Any of those guys would have kicked Rocky's ass though. Rocky's punches were way too wide and it looked as if they rarely, if ever connected.

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

How so? I equate it to a commentator getting inducted. They may never have played the sport, but it does not mean they don't deserve to be that respective Hall of Fame. Their voice is iconic with whatever sport or whatever team and they get in. Rocky is the same, but you guys are just hung up on it being a celebrity. Don't focus so much on him being in the actual fighter section of the boxing Hall of Fame because that would be stupid of them to do. He would or should only be in a celebrity wing. My example may be a little shit but it makes sense to me.

Well, as long as their putting him into a "celebrity" wing of the hall of fame, I guess that would make a little bit more sense.

Why not induct the movie, or the movie franchise then, at least those are real life things. Inducting a fictional character into a REAL HOF just comes off as extremely laughable.

If I was a boxing commentator waiting to get my nod for the hall of fame I'd be a little ticked off that a character from a movie made it into the hall of fame for "acting" where the commentator had been busting his ass for 30 plus years giving his life to the sport of boxing, only to have a HOF spot go to Rocky!? I don't care how popular he is.

What's next, are we going to induct Charlie Sheen as the Wild Thing into the Baseball HOF. This goes to far in my book.

Rocky for years was the greatest sports figure in Philadelphia - and he's not even real. That's as much sad for people in Philly as it is remarkable for Stallone and the Rocky character. Do you all mean to tell me that the Rocky films didn't do good things for boxing?

Sure the movie did good things for boxing, just like the sandlot did good things for baseball, and the mighty ducks for hockey. Are we going to be inducting Billy Madison into the PGA hall of Fame?

Everyone draws the line somewhere, for me it's fictional characters getting Hall of Fame nods.

 

[INDYjon22]

Well, as long as their putting him into a "celebrity" wing of the hall of fame, I guess that would make a little bit more sense.

Why not induct the movie, or the movie franchise then, at least those are real life things. Inducting a fictional character into a REAL HOF just comes off as extremely laughable.

If I was a boxing commentator waiting to get my nod for the hall of fame I'd be a little ticked off that a character from a movie made it into the hall of fame for "acting" where the commentator had been busting his ass for 30 plus years giving his life to the sport of boxing, only to have a HOF spot go to Rocky!? I don't care how popular he is.

What's next, are we going to induct Charlie Sheen as the Wild Thing into the Baseball HOF. This goes to far in my book.



Sure the movie did good things for boxing, just like the sandlot did good things for baseball, and the mighty ducks for hockey. Are we going to be inducting Billy Madison into the PGA hall of Fame?

Everyone draws the line somewhere, for me it's fictional characters getting Hall of Fame nods.

Well, I think there is a limit as to what characters from film would or should be included or even mentioned. Most characters don't have any lasting effect on us, or are based off of someone who is most likely already in some sort of Hall of Fame. Rocky was remarkable in the fact that he actually benefited the boxing world in a positive way. A character like Wild Thing, while entertaining, had no lasting impact or influence on baseball. That is something that cannot be said for Rocky Balboa. That's why I find it permissible for that character to get in, opposed to other ones.

But like I said, the character should not be listed with any real boxers, that just isn't right seeing as he is fictional. Real boxers should be the ones primarily recognized for their contribution. Rocky should only be listed in some sort of celebrity capacity, or else they are making a mockery of the Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

I have absolutely no problem with this. For most people the biggest name in the sport is still Rocky Balboa. Hell even when people sing songs and reference fighting or boxing they use Rocky. Rocky is one of the biggest characters ever and is one of, if not the most reconized name in boxing.

 

[klunderbunker]

The movie argument for any other movie does not hold up. No sports movie is anywhere close to being at the same level that Rocky is at for boxing. Rocky is one of the most famous movies of all time, not just in sports movies. It's not like the Natural won Best Picture and got a ton of people into baseball. Using that argument does not hold up at all. Rocky is a FAR more important addition to boxing than any other sports movie is to its sport. Stallone/Rocky belongs in the Hall of Fame, no questions about it.

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

A movie is still a movie, no matter how inspirational, and no matter how many awards it has won, at the end of the day, it's all FAKE. Acting in a movie and competing in an athletic event are two completely different things, it's the reason you have the Oscar's, and the numerous other awards that are handed out every year to movies and films.

There's no arguing that it is one of the most inspirational films of all time, but it's just that, a film. Which has already won the Oscar for best film, and best director, Stalone didn't even win best actor for his work in Rocky.

It's not like they're even putting the movie in the hall of fame though, they're putting a fake character from a movie, and inducting him into the same hall of fame right along side boxers who actually had HoF worthy careers. Just seems kind of silly to me.

 

[klunderbunker]

First off, Stallone is going in, not Rocky. Second, he's going in as an observer, not someone that has ever been in a fight. Howard Cossell is in the same wing. He's never been in a boxing ring but has only spoken about it. Stallone advanced boxing forward far more than guys like Cossell did, but he's not worthy of being in as an observer? That makes little sense.

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

Well this is the first mention of him going in as an observer.

If they already have a wing in their HoF for stuff like this than that's fine. I was under the impression that the character Rocky was getting inducted.

 

[Slyfox696]

A movie is still a movie, no matter how inspirational, and no matter how many awards it has won, at the end of the day, it's all FAKE.

So was Ali's fight against Liston, what's your point? I'm sorry, I agree on some levels with what you are saying, but to make the comment something doesn't belong in the boxing Hall of Fame because it was "fake" is just absurd. Boxing is FULL of guys taking dives, rigged fights, etc. Saying something doesn't belong because it's fake just doesn't cut it for me.

Personally, I wouldn't be an advocate for this, but I don't have a problem with it either. Like others have said, how is this any different than commentators, or team owners, umpires/referees/officials etc. getting into a Hall of Fame? At the end of the day, it's no different, and the effect the character Sylvester Stallone played had on boxing and it's fans is every bit as important as that referee who is getting in.

 

[Mustang Sally]

First off, Stallone is going in, not Rocky.

That's the point. I can see the argument against putting a fictional character in the Hall, but Sylvester Stallone isn't fictional.

They have many non-boxers in there, including commentators, promoters and journalists. I looked at the HOF website and they indicate that people who have made contributions to the sport of boxing are eligible.

On that basis, I think inducting Stallone is fine. He created interest in the sport, even more than some of the boxers.

 

[jmt225]

Okay, first of all, OP... you forgot to mention that Kostya Tszyu, one of the greatest and most exciting fighters in history (and a guy who I think could have whooped both Pacman and Mayweather in his prime), is also being into this year's hall of fame.

Tszyu being inducted along with the likes of Tyson, Julio Caeser Chavez, and the greatest fictional sports character in history, Rocky Balboa, makes this class easily the greatest in history, as far as I can tell.

Obviously, I have zero problem with Rocky being inducted. I mean, this year's Boxing HOF class was already going to get hype over Tyson being inducted, but with Rocky Balboa of all people... this has EVERYBODY talking. It's great for the sport of boxing, and it's bringing recognition to the boxing Hall of Fame. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.