Think again, says Florian Munteanu, who plays Viktor, the son of Ivan Drago, in the latest film of the Rocky saga later this month. Tekken. Many viewers and critics have suggested that Drago was meant to symbolize the U.S. perception of the Soviets: immense, powerful, and emotionless. Viktor pummels Donnie, breaking his ribs and brutally injuring his kidneys, but is disqualified for landing a punch on Donnie while he was down. Ivan was born on November 3rd, 1961 in Moscow, Russia, there isn’tmuch information surrounding his childhood, but one would assume that hewas raised with discipline, due to growing up in such a rough environment.Ivan would eventually join the Soviet Army becoming an Infantry Captain, itwas during this time that a boxing trainer named Sergei Rimsky and a high ranking political adviser named Nicolai Koloff were scouting the soldiers in order to find a worthyathlete. The 60 Best Black Friday Deals to Check Out Now, My Secret to Navigating COVID-19 Mental Health, 8 Reasons to Quit Your Phone This Holiday Season, No, Vitamin C Supplements Will Not Save Us All, The Hypervolt GO Is the Mini Massage Gun You Need. "It's a heavyweight bout, so I was trying to lose, like, 20 pounds to drop to 220," he told the magazine. But his evening meals focused on one protein source. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Finally at peace with his past, Ivan focuses on developing a deeper bond with his son, jogging with him side-by-side. Brawlhalla. Munteanu inhaled protein day and night (aiming to eat a gram per pound of body weight). [8], Some, however, have noticed Drago's individualism. Commentaries on Drago often characterize him as a hyperbolic representation of Soviet power in the context of the latter part of the Cold War. "Definitely give me a bench press," he says. Ivan Drago (Russian: Иван Драго) is a fictional character from the Rocky film series who originates from Soviet Russia. Team Fortress. Creed arrives to the ring wearing his signature Stars & Stripes boxing garb to "Living in America," sung by James Brown, dancing upon a huge stage that is lowered into the ring. [9], In 2004, The Washington Times referenced Ivan in a comparison of the Soviet–U.S. What did Katya Lycheva do wrong? Drago hugs a humiliated Viktor after the fight, assuring him that it is okay and that he is proud. Street Fighter. [10], Russian goodwill ambassador Katya Lycheva objected to the character Ivan Drago, saying that the film uses him to vilify Russian people.[11]. Ask him to build a home gym, and he keeps it simple. And I would go for a treadmill. Here's how. "No way," Munteanu tells Men's Health. He also appears in the 2018 film Creed II, in which he serves as the trainer to his son Viktor. Besides that, he also competed professionally as a boxer in the heavyweight division. Ahsoka Tano Will Appear in 'The Mandalorian', The Mandalorian Finally Revealed The Child's Name, Hyundai May Turn the Robot Dog Into a Walking Car, The Mandalorian's Big Reveal Teases Evil Baby Yoda, 60 Memes That Capture the Pure Joy of Baby Yoda. After Viktor knocks out every opponent he faces in Ukraine, and Adonis "Donnie" Creed wins the World Heavyweight Championship, Drago, Viktor, and promoter Buddy Marcelle travel to Philadelphia to issue a challenge to Donnie for the title. Unlike the flamboyant Apollo Creed and the brash James "Clubber" Lang—Rocky's opponents in previous films—Ivan Drago is quiet and non-boastful. We may earn a commission through links on our site. In most cases, official artworks and cinematics are the main sources used to compare the champions. All traits of a character are … He was a former Soviet military captain and amateur boxing champion bent on defeating Rocky Balboa. The enraged Drago grabs him by the throat, throws him out of the ring, and proclaims he only fights for himself. Viktor Drago is notorious villain Ivan Drago's son in Creed 2. [2], Ivan Drago was forced to leave Russia and move to Ukraine to look after his son Viktor Drago following his loss to Rocky.[4]. The Times's Patrick Hruby noted that without an embodiment of the rivalry like Ivan Drago, the Olympics were not as fun. His game plan with running: a few miles at a consistent pace three days a week. Rocky defeats Drago by KO in the 15th and final round in a dramatic ending. Former champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), now 43 years old, comes out of retirement to challenge Drago to an exhibition match, promoted by Creed's former rival Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Defenseless, Apollo continues to absorb blows to the head until Drago finally kills him with a final blow to the head. Who Is Grand Admiral Thrawn in 'The Mandalorian'? Overwatch. Before prepping for the movie, he weighed in at a hefty 250 pounds. His heart rate and punching power are constantly measured via computers during his workouts. Munteanu kept it simple to get in shape for Creed II, too. In the original film, the character only speaks in terse, short statements. The Superhero Database Classification number, or SHDB Class, is a number that represents the overall 'power' of a character. During Rocky's fight with Tommy Gunn, Rocky sees visions of Drago killing Apollo while believing he is about to suffer the same fate at Tommy's hands, until a vision of Mickey inspired him to get up and defeat Tommy. As Viktor Drago, he's a slimmed-down 225. Donnie shoves Drago and a scrum breaks out between the two champs. Creed's New Boxing Opponent Is Terrifying, How Michael B. Jordan Got Ripped for Creed II, Dolph Lundgren & Florian Munteanu on 'Creed II', 'Creed II' Is an Even Better Version of 'Rocky IV'. Drago was married to another athlete, Ludmilla Vobet (Brigitte Nielsen), who is mentioned to be a double gold medalist in swimming. Ivan killed Adonis' father Apollo in a boxing match in Rocky IV. Drago's trainers, Sergei Igor Rimsky (George Rogan) and Manuel Vega (James "Cannonball" Green), along with his wife Ludmilla (Brigitte Nielsen), are convinced that he can defeat any boxer. The ABC podcast Finding Drago[12] explores the influence of Ivan Drago on contemporary writers, novelists and comedians, including the novel On Mountains We Stand[13] by Todd Noy, which chronicles the events of Ivan Drago's life in the immediate aftermath of the Rocky IV film. Drago enters professional heavyweight boxing in the beginning of the movie. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Heights - from shorter to taller. Weight guess would be in the range of two tons/1800kg. “We were training every day for five or six hours, because I had to shrink down,” says Munteanu. In Creed II, Stallone added more lines for the character than the original film. [3] Drago is seen receiving intramuscular injections in the movie, implied to be anabolic steroids, though the actual nature of the injected solution is never explicitly stated, instead Ludmilla, his wife stated as a joke that Drago is like a Popeye and eats spinach everyday. Toward the conclusion of the fourth film, when Drago is confronted by a Communist Party functionary, the fighter from the collectivist USSR screams at the top of his lungs, "I fight to win FOR ME!!