Rocky Balboa is a small-time boxer who lives in an apartment in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and his career has so far not gotten off the canvas. Rocky earns a living by collecting debts for a loan shark named Gazzo but Gazzo doesn't think Rocky has the viciousness it takes to beat up deadbeats. Rocky still boxes every once in a while to keep his boxing skills sharp and his ex-trainer Mickey believes he could've made it to the top if he was willing to work for it. Rocky who has a dog goes to a pet store that sells pet supplies and this is where he meets a young woman named Adrian who is extremely shy with no ability to talk to men. Rocky befriends her. Adrian's brother Paulie who works for a meat packing company is thrilled that someone has become interested in Adrian and Adrian spends Thanksgiving with Rocky. Later they go to Rocky's apartment where Adrian explains that she has never been in a man's apartment before. Rocky sets her mind at ease and they become lovers. Current world heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed comes up with the idea of giving an unknown a shot at the title. Apollo checks out the Philadelphia boxing scene and chooses Rocky. Fight promoter Jergens gets things in gear and Rocky starts training with Mickey. After a lot of training Rocky is ready for the match and he wants to prove that he can go the distance with Apollo.