# Rocky’s losing record was part of his appeal

Markdown copy of https://realalpha.app/s/rockys-losing-record-was-part-of-his-appeal/ on Real Alpha, the best minutes from long interviews with the people building AI. Cite and link the page, not this copy.

- Speaker: [Sylvester Stallone](https://realalpha.app/people/sylvester-stallone/) · Sylvester Stallone is an actor, screenwriter and author.
- Host: [Gary Neville](https://realalpha.app/people/gary-neville/)
- Host: [Jamie Carragher](https://realalpha.app/people/jamie-carragher/)
- Host: [Roy Keane](https://realalpha.app/people/roy-keane/)
- Host: [Ian Wright](https://realalpha.app/people/ian-wright/)
- Host: [Jill Scott](https://realalpha.app/people/jill-scott/)
- Show: Stick to Football
- Episode: [Stallone: Rocky Secrets, Rambo Stories & Schwarzenegger Rivalry | Stick to Football EP 154](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/), Oct 22, 2026
- Moment: 23:55 to 26:29 of the episode (3 min), playing on https://realalpha.app/s/rockys-losing-record-was-part-of-his-appeal/; the episode from there: https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1435

## Quote

> “Fraser **brings out the best in you**, but he's a very, very competitive guy”
> — [Sylvester Stallone](https://realalpha.app/people/sylvester-stallone/) at [24:24](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1464) · Stick to Football

## Takeaways

1. Stallone says he and Schwarzenegger could not stand to share a room.
2. He compares their rivalry to Ali–Frazier bringing out the best in each other.
3. Rocky’s 26–24 record made accepting losses part of the character.

## About this segment

Sylvester Stallone recalls a rivalry with Schwarzenegger so fierce they could not share a room. He says Rocky’s 26–24 record helped make him relatable.

From “Stallone: Rocky Secrets, Rambo Stories & Schwarzenegger Rivalry | Stick to Football EP 154”, Oct 22, 2026. [Watch the full episode](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/)

## Transcript

Transcribed by machine (Whisper) from the episode’s audio, so a word may be off here and there.

[24:01](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1441) You stipulated in your contracts that you had to have a bigger weapon on screen than Schwarzenegger No, it was never stipulated, but yeah, there was a kind of competition Yeah, what was it like at the start the competition when you got I always felt like it was he said some I think he did, and I don't hold that against him, but actually I'm glad, it's like Ali Fraser brings out the best in you, but he's a very, very competitive guy, and that's how many, how many, six, seven, eight of Mr. Olympians, and I wasn't, but then I said, you know what, this could end up being interesting, and he got, I mean, we couldn't stand to be in the same room, and I love that feeling.

[24:53](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1493) Because now we see Friends in that now. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. In Escape, I love that. Escape's cool. It's still competitive, but it's undocumented. Do you think that has something to do with the film? Because Rambo, I remember a lot of his stuff came when Rambo came out, and he was getting so much publicity. Everybody loved Rambo. And that's when I'd hear a lot from him saying just, like, mean things.

[25:16](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1516) Rambo commando. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. You know, he's just a very, God, actually I think he's even more competitive than me. Because I don't like to compete. I really don't. It's like, I'm one of those guys, oh, I lost the fight. We lost it. You lost the game. I didn't dwell on it. As some people, you've been with golfers, they go nuts. I go, you're not a pro. So that's why I'm rocky. And I think why people identify with him.

[25:49](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1549) He's lost as many fights as he's won. So he's like 26 and 24, which he goes, that's part of the game. He didn't, I've actually met guys that have lost over 100 fights and maybe won three. I wanted to do a movie about those guys. You know, the journeymen, they bring into town. Do you admire them more than the guys who win all the time? Oh, gosh, yeah. Think about that one. I mean, I'm going to, I'm a professional loser.

[26:14](https://realalpha.app/v/Axv-1C9-07U/?t=1574) I thought, what a great idea. Because that's pretty much what Rocky was. he's a professional loser and it didn't bother him and that's a what a mentality that is how much