Factual error: During the period in which Apollo is trying to bait Rocky into a rematch, Rocky puts the TV on and sees a sports report in which Brent Musburger announces that the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a late field goal by Frank Corral. The movie takes late 1976-ish. The Rams did not play the Buccaneers in 1976, and Frank Corral did not join the Rams until 1978. The game in question occurred during the 1978 season.
Factual error: Even though the story is supposed to take place in late 1976-ish, the Trans Am that Rocky drives is a 1978 model.
Answer: With all the damage Apollo did to Rocky, Rocky still wasn't knocked out. In the film series, Rocky is depicted as having an almost superhuman ability to absorb punches. Rocky also caused internal bleeding in Apollo. Tony knew that Rocky was far more dangerous than anyone realized.
Greg Dwyer