Warning: This article contains spoilers for Creed III.Apollo Creed's (Carl Weathers) legacy looms large over the Creed franchise, and one major death in Creed III significantly changes its memory. Apollo went from being Rocky Balboa's (Sylvester Stallone) main antagonist in Rocky and Rocky II to being one of The Italian Stallion's greatest allies and mentors, and the unique relationship that the boxers shared allowed his son Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) to become one of Rocky's finest — if unlikely — proteges. With Rocky in his corner, Donnie manages to take on many enemies, from his own inner demons to Viktor Drago, the son of The Siberian Express whose punch killed his father in the ring.

Creed III has a time jump that takes place after a seven since Donnie's victory against Drago, and with a successful gym of boxers and a thriving family, he thinks his old demons have finally been KO'ed. However, when Dame Anderson (Jonathan Majors), an old childhood friend, gets out of prison and seeks to take his legacy, he needs his friends and family more than ever. Then, just before the fight of his career, the death of someone who has supported him through it all forces a confrontation of the trauma of his past and the secrets that tarnish Apollo's name and hold him back from his true potential in the ring.

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3 Why Mary Anne Calls Adonis Apollo In Creed 3

creed 3 mary-anne

The worst happens just before the big fight with Dame; Donnie discovers that Mary Anne, Apollo's first wife, has had a fatal stroke. As he sits by her deathbed, Mary Anne calls Adonis by his father's name. Apollo was killed in Rocky IV and never got to find out how his son turned out, and Mary Anne's dying euphoria makes it possible. "Apollo," she says. "Look at your son." Despite his father's affair sometime after Rocky III, Mary Anne raised the product of his infidelity as her own, and Donnie never forgot her kindness.

Donnie has lived with the weight of Apollo's actions his entire life and knows how much they affected Mary Anne. This scene is the closest the Creed movies have ever gotten to touching on Apollo's indiscretion, assuming that Mary Anne and Donnie have worked out their issues throughout the three films. Even though Donnie had his moments at a group home and acted out with a rough crowd, Mary Anne always stood by him and tried to give him the advice Apollo would have, dissuading him from solving every problem with his fists.

2 Mary Anne's Death Proves Adonis Has Honored Apollo's Legacy

Carl Weathers what Apollo would tell his son Adonis Creed

By referring to Adonis as "Apollo" in her final words, Mary Anne proves to him that he's honored his father's legacy. She not only recognizes him as Apollo in a narrative sense but as Apollo's equal. Her slip of the tongue highlights how she truly feels by synonymously linking her former husband with her adopted son, and the mistaken identity only illustrates how alike the two really are. Far from living in the shadow of Apollo's signature red gloves, Donnie has become equal to The Dancing Destroyer with his own accomplishments and acknowledgment that the greatest opponent in the ring is a fighter's own mind.

Donnie has not only carried his father's infidelity with him but the Creed name. Had Apollo lived, Donnie would have had a very different life and been a different person, but Mary Anne's spoken words at the time of her passing signify that Donnie and Apollo are almost interchangeable at this point. He had to prove himself as the heir to his father's legacy in name as well as action, and thanks to the support of people like Mary Anne and Rocky. He's been able to be a fighter worthy of Apollo's storied history in the ring.

RELATED: Apollo Creed's Backstory & Boxing History (Before Rocky)

1 Mary Anne's Wish For Apollo Proves Adonis Did Him Proud

Creed 3 Michael B. Jordan in Front of Pile of Money

While Mary Anne refers to Adonis as Apollo, she exclaims excitedly, "you have a son," and mentions how she wishes he could meet him. Since Apollo died in 1985, he never got to see the man his son became, so lamenting this with her dying breath reveals her innermost feelings about their lack of relationship. Despite an absent familial bond, Donnie has not only carried on Apollo's legacy as the greatest fighter but repaired the damage it's suffered. The flashbacks to "Baby Creed" and Dame in Creed III reveal how much trouble Donnie got into as a teenager and how close he was to getting put in jail along with Dame.

Mary Anne's death is imperative to wrapping up Apollo's story as well as highlighting how his son has carried on his legacy. By loving the son Apollo had through an affair, she learned to forgive her husband for causing her so much pain and leaving her to carry it alone. Not only has Donnie succeeded his father as a boxer and a mentor in Creed III, but in perhaps the most important way, he's also been the father that Apollo never could be.

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