To say that Apollo Creed's character (played by Carl Weaters) is an analogue of Ali may appear lazy on paper. After all, both are boxers, they both have a huge and praise, both are black, and so on. However, despite all the unique qualities that Withers brought by the role, there are undoubtedly some Ali's DNA in Apollo. It is clear enough for Ali himself to notice that, hence the Oscars.

However, but he simply did not accidentally bother with each other and Creed. He also articulated, most appropriate during Interview with film critic Roger Ebert in 1979, where the couple watched "Rocky II" together. In the work, Ebert speaks to Ali about the general similarities between events and characters in the film and boxing world, aspects that Ali gladly confirms or denies. (During the stage of lifting a rock weight, but he says it is "the worst thing the boxer can do ... but it looks good in the movie.")

However, when Ebert pressed Ali to whether he thinks Balboa's character is inspired by him, but he sets the record directly for which character is really more like him:

"No.

Further, Ali claims that the Withers himself told him that "he got dancing and pockets, the whole style of Apollo Creed" to watch shots from the boxer. For the most part, Ali seemed to be pleased with Apollo and "Rocky" in general, calling the movie "Rocky II" which "has all the ingredients ... The excitement is never stray." However, there is an aspect of Rocky movies (Those Ali had to see, ie), for whom the champion had some sober thoughts and made it clear to Ebert when asked:

"For the blacksmith to come out superior, I would be against the teachings of America. I was so great in boxing that they had to create a picture like Rocky, a white image on the screen, to oppose my image in the ring. America must have its white pictures, no matter where she receives.

Ali died in June 2016, just seven months after the publication of Ryan Koggler's "Creed", followed by exploitation of Apollo's son, Adonis (Michael B. Jordandan) and made Rocky as an accompanying character. It is unclear whether Ali had to show the film before he died, but someone hoped that if so, but he enjoyed it as well - if not a little more than - he made the first two "rocky" movies.