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The firstRockymovie served as Sylvester Stallone’s big break in the film industry and catapulted him to stardom. It was also one of the rare franchises that forced him to confront hisRocky 4co-star Dolph Lundgren, pushing him to the edge of the limit.
During aRocky 4retrospective, Stallone recounted how he was hospitalized after being beaten so severely by his co-star Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren played Ivan Drago inRocky 4, which pits Stallone’s character Rocky against Drago in the ring.
Also Read:6 ft 5 in Tall Rocky Villain Dolph Lundgren, Who Nearly Killed Sylvester Stallone With a Punch, Saved His Wife’s Life From 3 Raiders and He Was Not Even Present at the Crime Scene
The Hardest Punch Sylvester Stallone Ever Got in His Career
Speaking with Jimmy Fallon in an episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,Sylvester Stalloneonce revealed the hardest punch he ever got in his career.
“Dolph Lundgren put me in a hospital for four and a half days. It was unbelievable. I mean really, he hit me so hard in the chest that the next thing I know I was in a low-altitude flight in an intensive care at St. John Hospital surrounded by four nuns,” Stallone said.
In Netflix’s 2023 documentary,Sly, based on the legendary action God Sylvester Stallone’s life and career, the actor revealed many details of his movies as well which include the 6 feet 5 inchDolph Lundgren’s hard hit that put him in a hospital bed.
“Later that night, my heart started to swell—which happens when the heart hits the chest—and then my blood pressure went up to 260, and they thought I was going to be talking to angels. Next thing I know, I’m in intensive care, where I’m surrounded by nuns, and I thought, ‘OK, that’s curtains.’”
TheRockystar had to spend nine days in the hospital and his condition was severe as the doctors could relate it to a devastating car crash. “I did hit a bus, of sorts,” (ViaDeadline) Stallone joked later. Fortunately, the doctors cleared him as he recovered.
Also Read:“How can Matt Damon be so lethal?”: Dolph Lundgren Downplayed Bourne Movies While Praising His Grueling On Screen Fight With Sylvester Stallone
Why Sylvester Stallone Initially ‘hated‘ Dolph Lundgren?
Even though the two are now friends, Sylvester Stallone admitted in an interview with Jimmy Fallon onThe Tonight Showthat he initially “hated” the Swedish action hero.
“I hated him,” recalled theRambo: Last Bloodstar, describing his first impression of Lundgren.
“In Rocky IV I really wanted a big, horrible, vicious guy. I mean, like a primitive. And I couldn’t find him. I’m finding giant wrestlers and football players. He was like the real Terminator, and I go, ‘I hate this friggin’ guy,’” Stallone said. (ViaCinemaBlend)
“He’s just too perfect, too good-looking. And if I loathe him, I’m sure the world will.”
Certainly, Lundgren’s character added the necessary flavors the movie needed. Ivan Drago made a mark as one of the most prominentRockyvillains in the entire franchise.
Rocky 4is available to stream on Max.
Also Read:Sylvester Stallone Gets The Best Surprise As A Young Fan Hits Him With The Greatest Rocky Quote Of All Time Out Of Nowhere
Prantik Prabal Roy
Articles Published :778
Prantik Prabal Roy is a content writer at FandomWire. With over three years of experience in content writing for various media houses, he takes great interest in telling stories about Hollywood celebrities and the world revolving around them. He has done his Master’s in English literature and diploma course in journalism. Being a literature student, he has the ability to delve into the matter and analyse it thoroughly to give the readers a clear view on the specific topics.
