Creed 2015 Movie Ending Explained, Does Donnie get help from Rocky?

Creed plot summary

  Adonis "Donnie" Johnson, son of the late former champion Apollo Creed, is struggling to create his own legacy as a boxer. Looking for solid training help, he arrives at the door of Rocky, his father's best friend and rival. Reluctant at first, Rocky eventually agrees to train Donnie. Will Donnie be able to follow the path of his father's sweat and blood? Let's find out:

  When does Donnie wear gloves?

  After Donnie's biological mother passed away in 1998, Creed's widow, Mary Ann, offered to take Donnie in. A decade and a half later, Donnie is a small-time boxer fighting in small tournaments. Donnie resigns from his financial company to devote everything he has to the sport of boxing.  

 He is rejected at the elite Delphi Boxing Academy in Los Angeles. In one instance, Donnie defeated light heavyweight opponent no. 2, The Stuntman – he clearly got the nod after offering his Ford Mustang to everyone at the gym.

  Disillusioned, but still hooked, Donnie heads to Philadelphia to meet Rocky Balboa, the man his father helped make his way to the top.

  

  Does Donnie get help from Rocky?

  Donnie meets Rocky at Adrian's, an Italian restaurant. He enlists Rocky to help him train. Having already made a one-time comeback, Rocky is reluctant to return to the ring. However, seeing Donnie's strength, Rocky agrees to become his trainer.

  Rocky tells him that Apollo won the match. Rocky starts Donnie's workout routine at the Front Street Gym with his friends to support the new man.

  Does Donnie accept Apollo Creed's legacy?

  Donnie is reluctant to use his father's name as he does not believe that Apollo has contributed anything to his skills as a boxer. Instead, he uses his biological mother's last name, Johnson.

After Donnie defeats local warrior The Lion in a mini-competition, the other party spreads the word that Donnie is Apollo's illegitimate son.

  World light heavyweight champion "The Beautiful" Ricky Conlan will soon retire due to pending prison time. His camp challenges Rocky to challenge Donnie in Conlan's final match. This could be a big moment for Donnie. However, Conlan's team has one condition - Donnie must legally change his name to Creed. Reluctant at first, Donnie agrees after thinking about it deeply.

  

  Does Donnie beat Conlan?

  Rocky was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, something made even worse considering he was still grieving the deaths of those closest to him, including the recent death of Paulie. Rocky wants to embrace death. But when Donnie urges her to seek treatment, she agrees to undergo chemotherapy. Donnie finishes training and is ready to face Conlan.

  Mary Ann presents Donnie with American flag crates before the match. Donnie starts off strong and impresses everyone with his skills. However, breaking Konlan's armor is not easy. After a few rounds, Conlan lands a powerful punch - knocking Donnie down in absolutely brutal fashion. To everyone's surprise, Donnie suddenly recovers and stands up after seeing Apollo. Donnie then knocks Conlan down - the first time he's been knocked down. The final round is over.

  Conlan is declared the winner by split decision. But Creed earns everyone's respect, including John, who tells him, "You're doing great, you're the future of this division." Continuing the tradition with Creed at his side, Rocky climbs the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.