Rocky Balboa is happy in his family life, and even the perpetual mumbling of Paulie Pennino, Adriana's brother, can't spoil Rocky's good mood. But a new tragedy bursts into Balboa's life....
His friend and trainer Apollo Creed agrees to take part in an exhibition fight with the world champion among amateur boxers Ivan Drago, captain of the Soviet Army. The organizers of the match called the bout an exhibition fight, but Ivan Drago turned the boxing fight into a real fight: the Russian giant, like a sledgehammer, laid Creed in the ring with a fatal blow.
To avenge the death of his friend in a fair sporting fight, Rocky Balboa returns to big boxing. To prepare for the fight, which, according to the terms of the contract, will be held in Moscow, Rocky goes to Russia, where he begins to regain fitness....