Boxer Joe Frazier has a cameo appearance in the film . The character of Apollo Creed was influenced by outspoken boxer Muhammad Ali who fought Frazier three times . During the 49th Academy Awards ceremony in 1977 , Ali and Stallone staged a brief comic confrontation to show Ali was not offended by the film . Some of the plot 's most memorable moments — Rocky 's carcass-punching scenes and Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art , as part of his training regimen — are taken from the real-life exploits of Joe Frazier , for which he received no credit
49th Academy Awards
49th Academy Awards
Rocky