The end of Rocky IV didn't work out for Soviet boxer Ivan Drago, but the original fate Sylvester Stallone envisioned for him was even darker. Dolph Lundgren's portrayal of Drago has become iconic, especially for his emotionless delivery of the famous line, "If he dies, he dies," in regard to Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers)'s brutal - and eventually fatal - wounding. More than that, the Swedish actor truly embodied the essence of the cold and calculated athlete who would stop at nothing to be the best.
Most viewers are able to gather Rocky IV's glaring symbolism of good-guy, "All-American" hero Rocky taking down an emotionally calloused, steroid injected Soviet boxer to avenge his friend's death. And, of course, Rocky is featured on the sequel's poster wrapped in an American flag, wearing trunks of the same design. But after Rocky's final speech about how "everybody can change," that's the last the franchise saw of Drago for some time. His post-match fate wasn't touched upon for over 30 years, but just like with most writers, Stallone had an idea in mind for where the athlete ended up in life.
In a 2010 Q&A with Ain't It Cool News, Stallone revealed his thoughts on Drago's life post-Rocky IV, "Ivan Drago I always believed went back to Russia where he was scorned and badgered into a position of disgrace and eventually succumbed to alcoholism and unfortunately then suicide." The idea of Drago returning to his native USSR a disgraced man, having let his country down (in his mind and the minds of his fellow Soviets) did make its way into 2018's Creed II's when audiences are reintroduced to him, alongside his son Viktor. It was probably best Stallone decided to modify his concept of Drago's original post-match life, but despite it being the right call for the Rocky movie franchise, Ivan's grim alternate fate would most likely be a more accurate representation of how things would play out.
The concept of characters with a passion (especially athletes), who dedicate their entire lives to what they do and end up harming themselves in their drive for perfection is a common trope. Films like Black Swan or Whiplash, among a slew of others, showcase this kind of obsessive pursuit for excellence, often at the expense of the characters' mental or physical health. And, while dark - as well as dramatized and layered with extra artsiness thanks to Hollywood - this sort of lifestyle and mindset are common for many. Especially someone like Ivan Drago, who, most likely, had been training since his early youth to excel at a sport that was probably presented as his only chance at success or personal merit.
Though Drago came across as a cold, hard soul in Rocky IV, his character's original fate was tragic, cut short by addiction and anguish that led to suicide. And though that route might have been more realistic than the one seen in Creed 2, where he seems to have finally made peace with himself and his life, it's better Stallone wrote Drago's fate as he did - for Creed II's sake and that of Ivan Drago's legacy within the franchise.