Clubber Lang
Encyclopedia
James "Clubber" Lang is a fictional character
and antagonist
that appeared as Rocky Balboa's rival in the 1982 film Rocky III
. He was played by the popular "bodyguard to the stars" Mr. T
, who was 29 years old when the film was launched. The character is very loosely based on a combination of Sonny Liston
, Larry Holmes
, and George Foreman
.
Many of the character's catchphrases from Rocky III have become common in popular culture, and particularly in Mr. T's career.
. This is also evident in the game, Rocky Legends
, where if the player selects Clubber's path, he starts out fighting in the Chicago
Prison
, in a ring actually inside the prison itself. One novelization of the film called Lang's manager "Donut." He is also extremely rude
and lacking in morals.
In one version of the script of Rocky Balboa, Clubber was one of the commentators of the Rocky vs. Mason fight. Lang is also implied to be left-handed, as he fights southpaw and throws mainly left-handed haymakers from the southpaw stance.
, goading him to set up a fight for the championship between Rocky and himself. Later in the film, Clubber crashes a ceremony in Philadelphia dedicating a statue to Rocky and challenges him to a fight. To provoke his potential opponent, he proceeds to make comments of a sexual nature toward Rocky's wife, Adrian, prompting Rocky to lose his temper and accept the challenge, despite Mickey's protests.
At the match, Mickey suffers a heart attack after being shoved by Lang, just prior the beginning of the fight. Because Rocky is distracted by this, and because of the hand-picked competition he was given previously, Lang brutally defeats Rocky in a second round knockout to become Heavyweight Champion of the World. Mickey dies after this, and Rocky is then trained by Apollo Creed
, his former opponent from the first two Rocky films, who polishes Rocky's fighting style. In the rematch, Rocky uses increased speed and evasion techniques he learned from Creed to dominate the first round. Lang makes a comeback with harder strikes, but then Rocky sees a weakness in Lang's strategy. He lets Lang throw all the blows he wants and dodges them, exhausting the champion. When Lang ran out of energy, Rocky then knocked him out in the third round to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. Lang is very upset that he lost. He wasn't seen since his defeat. Clubber Lang's professional boxing record is unknown, but he seems to have made about 16-19 wins in the opening montage, plus an extra victory and defeat following his last fight with Rocky Balboa.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
that appeared as Rocky Balboa's rival in the 1982 film Rocky III
Rocky III
Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's...
. He was played by the popular "bodyguard to the stars" Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
, who was 29 years old when the film was launched. The character is very loosely based on a combination of Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
, Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
, and George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
.
Many of the character's catchphrases from Rocky III have become common in popular culture, and particularly in Mr. T's career.
Fictional character biography
James Lang was orphaned at an early age, and spent most of his childhood on the streets of Chicago's Southside, as well as time in orphanages and juvenile facilities. Later as an adult, Clubber was sent to prison for five years, for one possible count of a felony and/or assault charge. But during his time being served he discovered boxing as a way to let out his frustrations and talent, which leads to the events of Rocky IIIRocky III
Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's...
. This is also evident in the game, Rocky Legends
Rocky Legends
Rocky Legends is the sequel to the 2002 video game Rocky. It is a video game of the fighting game genre released in 2004, by Venom Games. The game is based on the Rocky movies.The events of the game take place before the films and in between...
, where if the player selects Clubber's path, he starts out fighting in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, in a ring actually inside the prison itself. One novelization of the film called Lang's manager "Donut." He is also extremely rude
Rude
Rude has many meanings:Behavior*Rudeness, disrespect for and failure to behave within the context of a society or a group of people's social laws or etiquettePeople*François Rude , a French sculptor...
and lacking in morals.
In one version of the script of Rocky Balboa, Clubber was one of the commentators of the Rocky vs. Mason fight. Lang is also implied to be left-handed, as he fights southpaw and throws mainly left-handed haymakers from the southpaw stance.
Plot
During Rocky IIIs intro, Rocky is shown easily defeating numerous contenders in a montage, during which Clubber is shown annoyed at Rocky apparently coasting through his title defenses. He is shown training himself and brutally thrashing other boxers, even resorting to slugging them when they're down, or when the round ends, eventually becoming number one ranked contender. At the end of the montage, Clubber is shown yelling at Rocky's trainer MickeyMickey Goldmill
Michael "Mickey" Goldmill was a fictional boxing trainer created by Sylvester Stallone and portrayed by Burgess Meredith in the Rocky film series. The character's gravelly voice, intense demeanor and popular catch phrases helped make him highly recognizable, as well as, a common source of parody...
, goading him to set up a fight for the championship between Rocky and himself. Later in the film, Clubber crashes a ceremony in Philadelphia dedicating a statue to Rocky and challenges him to a fight. To provoke his potential opponent, he proceeds to make comments of a sexual nature toward Rocky's wife, Adrian, prompting Rocky to lose his temper and accept the challenge, despite Mickey's protests.
At the match, Mickey suffers a heart attack after being shoved by Lang, just prior the beginning of the fight. Because Rocky is distracted by this, and because of the hand-picked competition he was given previously, Lang brutally defeats Rocky in a second round knockout to become Heavyweight Champion of the World. Mickey dies after this, and Rocky is then trained by Apollo Creed
Apollo Creed
Apollo Creed is a fictional character from the Rocky films, initially portrayed as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. He was played by Carl Weathers. Many believe his character was modeled after Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali while Rocky Balboa was based on relatively unknown...
, his former opponent from the first two Rocky films, who polishes Rocky's fighting style. In the rematch, Rocky uses increased speed and evasion techniques he learned from Creed to dominate the first round. Lang makes a comeback with harder strikes, but then Rocky sees a weakness in Lang's strategy. He lets Lang throw all the blows he wants and dodges them, exhausting the champion. When Lang ran out of energy, Rocky then knocked him out in the third round to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. Lang is very upset that he lost. He wasn't seen since his defeat. Clubber Lang's professional boxing record is unknown, but he seems to have made about 16-19 wins in the opening montage, plus an extra victory and defeat following his last fight with Rocky Balboa.
Popular catchphrases
- ["No, I don't hate Balboa, but] "I pity the fool." (Clubber originated the phrase, which has since become synonymous with Mr. TMr. TMr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
himself, and sometimes mistakenly with Mr T's A-Team character B.A.Baracus.) - [In response to a reporter asking for his prediction on a fight] Pain.
- "Dead meat."
- "I'll fight him (Rocky) ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, for NOTHIN!"
- "Got a LOTTA MO fo you Balboa! A LOTTA MO!"
- "I'll Bust You Up"
- In the film, Clubber throws a temper tantrum in the locker room before his first fight with Rocky Balboa and refers to the press as "parasites and leeches." Mr. T would use this phrase several times in his career, including in a 1985 interview with David LettermanDavid LettermanDavid Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
.