Rocky III
Rocky IIIsaw Sylvester Stallone ’s titulary character go up against Clubber Lang , though a real - life big 70 boxer almost play the latter . Clubber Lang is introduced as a vicious , hungry fresh bagger who challenge Rocky after accuse him of fighting easier opposition throughout his career . The character in the cinema was play by iconic action wiz Mr. T , which is a very different case of casting than what could have been .
ab initio , the antagonistic packer was intended to be played by someone else . This would have kickstarted the drift that was seen in theCreedfilms which saw literal fighters like Tony Bellew playing the titulary fictional character ’s opposer . As revealed byStallone , who will not return forCreed III , on his Instagram , Mr. T ’s casting was initially very different .
pertain : Apollo Creed vs. Clubber Lang : Which Rocky Opponent Would come through A Fight
Joe Frazier Almost Played Clubber Lang In Rocky III (& Why He Wasn’t)
Stallone revealed that , so as to drive box movies into territory they had never been before , he wanted Joe Frazier to recreate Clubber Lang . Frazier was the first pugilist to defeat fabled combatant Muhammad Ali and reign as the sport ’s unquestioned heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973 . Frazier finish his life history with a record of 34 wins , four losses , and one draw and is often rate among the best heavyweight battler of all time .
harmonise to Stallone , Frazier was more than worked up to potentially make for Clubber Lang inRocky III , with the two even engaging in a sparring competition to get a feel for the upcoming fight in the film . This spar is the independent reasonableness why Frazier ended up lose out on the role ofClubber Lang , one of Rocky ’s nemesis ' , to Mr. T. Frazier was , concord to Stallone , brutal and uncompromising in their spar and terminate up giving the actor - director stitch . It was this resolute fighting from Frazier that made Stallone realise he needed another action star opposite him , as opposed to a very severe fighter .
It’s Good For Rocky III That Mr. T Played Clubber Lang
In the remnant , it was potential a good affair that Mr. T terminate up playing Clubber Lang as it better fitsRocky’soverall tone . Like many of theRockyseries ' other antagonist , Mr. T fits the over - the - top , almost tinny activeness - hero vibe comfortably than Frazier could have . Given Lang ’s eccentric , tempestuous persona , an actor as extroverted as Mr. T was the correct choice to deplumate it off . With the the like of Carl Weathers and Dolph Lundgren wager otherRockyantagonists , Mr. T go the character in a way that makes theRockyfranchise so lovable in that eighty style . In the end , Clubber Lang , who was considered forCreed III , was meet by the estimable choice forRocky III , despite Joe Frazier ’s bona fide bequest in the substantial domain of fisticuffs .
More : Rocky : Clubber Lang ’s Boxing Record ( & Post - Fight Fate )
