Most fans remember Pedro Lovell as Spider Rico, the headbutting brawler from Rocky who gets knocked out in Resurrection Gym. But what many don’t realize is that just one day after filming on Rocky began, Lovell stepped into the real ring against heavyweight powerhouse Ken Norton—and it didn’t end well.
The KO King vs. The Legend
Pedro Lovell wasn’t just a movie tough guy—he was a legitimate pro fighter with an impressive record. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Argentinian boxer racked up 18 wins (14 by knockout) in 23 fights and had a reputation for throwing bombs.
Meanwhile, Ken Norton was one of the most feared heavyweights of the era. This was the guy who broke Muhammad Ali’s jaw and knocked out Joe Frazier. He was also originally considered for the role of Apollo Creed in Rocky, but had to turn it down to compete in ABC’s The Superstars sports competition.
On January 10, 1976, Lovell and Norton squared off in Las Vegas in a nationally televised fight.
The Fight: Norton’s Power Takes Over
At first, Lovell held his own. He used his sharp left jab to keep Norton at bay and landed some solid rights in the early rounds. But by round four, things took a brutal turn.
According to BoxRec, the Associated Press reported:
“Referee Ferd Hernandez stopped the fight at 1:40 of the fifth round after a smashing right to the head buckled Lovell’s legs and caused him to turn his back on Norton. Lovell held his own in the first three rounds, scoring well with a left jab and sending home an occasional hard right. Then Norton, pushing his career record to 35-3, almost took Lovell out in the fourth round. He staggered his opponent with a left uppercut to the chin in a neutral corner, and then pushed Lovell to the center of the ring, continuing to land shots to the head. As the bell sounded to end the round, Lovell walked slowly back to his corner. In the fifth round, Lovell’s speed seemed gone as Norton quickly resumed his relentless attack.”
Lovell showed heart, but Norton’s power was too much. The fight ended in the 5th round when Lovell turned away, unable to continue.
Aftermath: Rocky, Retirement, and a Comeback
Though he lost the fight, Lovell went on to finish his boxing career with four more fights before retiring in 1977. His Hollywood story wasn’t over, though.
Thirty years after getting knocked out by Rocky in 1976, Pedro Lovell made a comeback in Rocky Balboa (2006). This time, Spider Rico had a bigger role—working at Adrian’s Restaurant and even joining Rocky’s corner team for his fight against Mason “The Line” Dixon.
