Sylvester Stallone
Chapter 5 – Muscle and Fitness: How Dolph Lundgren trained to fight Rocky

Sylvester Stallone was in trouble. He had the concept for "Rocky IV," Rocky vs the Russians, but what he didn't have was somebody to play the Russian fighter. He needed a man who would be impressive enough to match and exceed the impact of Rocky's past opponents: Carl Weathers' Apollo Creed, wrestler Hulk Hogan and the formidable Mr. T. So Sly resorted to an old time Hollywood ploy - an international talent search.

Enter Dolph Lundgren - former chemical engineer, kick boxing champion, and actor. Dolph was in New York at the time and heard Stallone was casting for "Rocky IV." He auditioned, but was immediately turned down. At almost 6' 6", he was told he was too tall. "I think they saw about 8,000 people," Dolph recalls. "They were getting desperate, almost to the point of changing the plot, doing away with the idea of a Russian boxer because they couldn't find the right person. They needed somebody with a good body who could act, box, and speak with a Russian accent.