we would like to welcome our viewing audience to the grand world championship bicentennial heavyweight fight -- the first major event of the bicentennial year.  a point of interest is that the fight is being beamed to more than seven hundred and fifty million fans in theatres in nearly every corner of the world. i would like to welcome an old friend, and co- commentator for this evening's event -- jimmy michaels.
i only wonder if this man has the skill to go past three rounds -- vegas odds say, 'no.'
am i seeing right? creed is approaching the ring in a boat. is he supposed to be george washington? obviously so.
i agree.
the former champ looks great -- can we get joe over here -- here he comes.
joe, what are your feelings about tonight's fight?
the champ stings the slower challenger with jabs at will -- balboa blocks eighty percent of the blows with his face -- creed doesn't look the best he's ever been but is moving smoothly -- creed snaps out a triple combination that backs balboa into a corner -- oh, a solid hook by creed, a master of fist-men.
creed is down!!!
round three ready to start and should be interesting to see if creed can put the challenger away -- there goes the bell.
apollo almost sprints out of his corner -- feints and throws a pair of left-right combinations. balboa drops beneath a left upper cut and lands a very solid shot on creed's temple -- not much movement from balboa, duck a left, a right, another left and explodes with a right hook to the temple -- i mean explodes. the champ backs off.
no way -- but the brilliant ability of the champion to master situations like this is one of his most outstanding traits -- creed tosses a perfect right hand that rocks rocky.
without a doubt this is the most punishing brawl i have ever seen -- the ringside audience is spotted with blood.
the fight has slowed down to a near stand-still -- creed circles to rocky's right.  the spectrum is nearly silent -- neither fighter has made a motion to throw.  i've never seen anything like it in the last round of a championship fight.  apollo spits blood on the canvas. it appears he is protecting his right side. his ribs were probably injured at the end of round fourteen.