apollo creed sits in his dressing room.  it is dead silent except for some noise that filters under the door from the arena.
apollo's other hand is being wrapped. dead silence except for the tape and apollo's breathing.
close-up of drops being placed in his nose to help increase his intake of oxygen. the tremendously magnified sound of
a heavy coating of vaseline is applied around the champion's eyes.  in an extreme close-up, the eyes shine brightly with the grease.
close-up of apollo's trainer digging his fingers deeply into the thick neck muscles of apollo's upper back and neck.
apollo's trainer slips a mouthpiece into apollo's mouth. apollo shakes his head and the trainer removes it and places another one in the champ's mouth.  creed nods yes.