Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa faces off against a more intimidating and challenging opponent in Rocky III. However, Rocky’s challenge was nothing compared to what Stallone had to go through to get in shape for the role. In order to fight Mr. T’s Clubber Lang in the film, the First Blood actor had to cut down his body fat to 2.8%, and the process nearly caused him brain damage.
Rocky III was a movie that critics did not like at the time of its release but gained more respect retrospectively. The cult film grossed $270 million at the box office against a budget of $17 million, beating its predecessors’ collections. The film won an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, adding to the 11 Oscar nods for the franchise.
Sylvester Stallone Risked Brain Damage Preparing For Rocky III
Sylvester Stallone has suffered many injuries during the making of the Rocky franchise movies. Stallone was once critically admitted to the hospital during the filming of Rocky IV. While it was an accident that put him in the hospital in Rocky IV, Stallone nearly starved himself to the verge of damaging his brain in Rocky III.
Casting director Rhonda Young was impressed with one reality TV star at the time on America’s Toughest Bouncer. She brought in “the man with the mohawk,” Mr. T, to play Clubber Lang in the film. Stallone was determined to get ripped for the role, even more than what he achieved in the first two movies while fighting Carl Weathers in the ring.
The Expendables actor told in an interview with Wall Street Journal that he intended to achieve an all-time low body fat of 2.8%. He revealed drinking 25 cups of coffee a day to burn his fat. His breakfast only consisted of two small oatmeal cookies made with brown rice and 10 cups of coffee. He was mostly eating tuna during his other meals.
The Escape Plan actor admitted to the negative physical effects the diet had on his body. The major issue was that his memory was severely affected, with Stallone often forgetting his own phone number during that time. However, he endured all the pain as it was for “the cause.” Stallone explained to the Wall Street Journal:
“I used to drink about 25 cups [of coffee] a day when I was doing Rocky III. My entire breakfast would be maybe two [small] oatmeal cookies made with brown rice and 10 cups of coffee because I wanted to keep my body fat down to 2.8%. I was forgetting my phone number. I was eating just tuna fish. My memory was shot, it was completely gone. I was getting all kinds of debilitating physical effects. But it was for the cause.”
Stallone also revealed to WSJ that he severely damaged his body, not just in the Rocky franchise but throughout his 50-year career. His body suffered several injuries, and Stallone listed out the number of operations he had on his body over the years. These included five back operations, two shoulders, three neck fusions, and both knees.
Sylvester Stallone Revealed His Workout Routine For Rocky III
While the diet itself was damaging to his body, it appears that Sylvester Stallone pushed himself beyond limits for Rocky III. In a 2004 issue of the Muscle & Fitness Magazine, the Tulsa King actor detailed his daily workout plan while filming the movie. The morning started for the actor with a two-mile jog, followed by two hours of weight training at the gym.
After a rest period, including an afternoon nap, Stallone engaged in 18 rounds of sparring followed by a second weight training session. He ended his day with a swim. From an intense routine for the Rocky franchise, the Samaritan actor has now moved on to more age and health-appropriate workout routines. Stallone revealed to WSJ that instead of lifting regular weights, he now used mostly bands and cables.
Rocky III and all other films in the franchise are now available for streaming on Max.
