It also helps that the anime hits on Ippo's personal life just ... I would say how they differ is that Ippo Makunouchi is much younger than Rocky Balboa or Adonis Creed, so there's a lot of ...

Rocky Balboa accompanies his friend Apollo Creed to the ring in a boxing match against a Russian Boxer named Ivan Drago. Drago is too strong for Creed, and unfortunately kills him in his match.