Story Overview

Orphaned at a young age, Adonis Johnson grows up in a series of juvenile detention centers, known more for his violent temper than his good heart. His life takes a dramatic turn when a woman claiming to have known his father seeks him out and offers him a way out of the institution.

The woman is Mary Anne Creed, the widow of legendary boxing champion Apollo Creed. Under her care, Adonis is introduced to a life of comfort, stability, and opportunity—everything he never had growing up. Yet despite these privileges, he is consumed by a single, burning desire: to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a boxer.

Determined to prove himself on his own terms and not live in the shadow of a famous name, Adonis steps into the brutal world of professional boxing. As he fights to define his identity, he must confront the legacy of Apollo Creed, the expectations placed upon him, and the personal demons that threaten to pull him back into darkness.