<P> Donnie fights Conlan at Goodison Park in Conlan 's hometown of Liverpool , and many parallels emerge between the bout that ensues and Apollo and Rocky 's first fight forty years earlier . First , before entering the ring , Donnie receives a present from Mary Anne -- new American flag trunks similar to the ones Apollo and later Rocky wore . Additionally , to the surprise of nearly everyone , Donnie gives Conlan all he can handle . Conlan knocks Donnie down , but Donnie recovers to knock Conlan down for the first time in his career . Donnie goes the distance , but Conlan wins on a split decision ( just as Apollo retained his title by split decision against Rocky ) . However , Donnie has won the respect of Conlan and the crowd ; as Max Kellerman puts it while calling the fight for HBO , `` Conlan won the fight , but Creed won the night . '' Conlan tells Donnie that he is the future of the light heavyweight division . </P>
<P> Donnie fights Conlan at Goodison Park in Conlan 's hometown of Liverpool , and many parallels emerge between the bout that ensues and Apollo and Rocky 's first fight forty years earlier . First , before entering the ring , Donnie receives a present from Mary Anne -- new American flag trunks similar to the ones Apollo and later Rocky wore . Additionally , to the surprise of nearly everyone , Donnie gives Conlan all he can handle . Conlan knocks Donnie down , but Donnie recovers to knock Conlan down for the first time in his career . Donnie goes the distance , but Conlan wins on a split decision ( just as Apollo retained his title by split decision against Rocky ) . However , Donnie has won the respect of Conlan and the crowd ; as Max Kellerman puts it while calling the fight for HBO , `` Conlan won the fight , but Creed won the night . '' Conlan tells Donnie that he is the future of the light heavyweight division . </P>
who does creed fight at the end of the movie
who does creed fight at the end of the movie
Conlan
Conlan