How did Dolph Lundgren injure Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV?

Dolph Lundgren injured Sylvester Stallone with a punch during the filming of a boxing scene for Rocky IV, causing Stallone's heart to swell and his blood pressure to rise dangerously.

What happened to Sylvester Stallone after the Rocky IV injury?

Sylvester Stallone was hospitalized in intensive care for four days due to the injury sustained during Rocky IV filming.

Was the real injury from Rocky IV kept in the movie?

Yes, Sylvester Stallone decided to keep the footage of the actual punch that injured him in the final cut of Rocky IV.

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Dolph Lundgren: Rocky IV Injury Made Sly Stallone Hospitalized

28 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Dolph Lundgren revealed he hospitalized Sylvester Stallone during Rocky IV filming.
Stallone's heart swelled, blood pressure hit 260 after a punch.
The real injury from the film's fight scene was kept in the movie.

Dolph Lundgren: Rocky IV Injury Made Sly Stallone Hospitalized

Dolph Lundgren has shared details about the serious injury he caused Sylvester Stallone while filming "Rocky IV." Lundgren admitted he was unaware of the severity at the time, only learning Stallone was hospitalized after returning to Los Angeles. Stallone later recounted in a documentary that his heart swelled, his blood pressure dangerously high, leading to an ICU stay.

The incident occurred during the climactic boxing match between their characters, Ivan Drago and Rocky Balboa. Despite the real-life medical emergency, Stallone decided to keep the footage of the impactful punch in the movie, considering its dramatic significance.

"Rocky IV" depicted a grueling fight where Lundgren's character, Ivan Drago, ultimately defeated Stallone's Rocky Balboa. The film's narrative and the intensity of the on-screen battle have since been shadowed by the actual physical toll it took on Stallone.