Ivan Drago


 * "I must break you."
 * ―Ivan Drago to Rocky Balboa[src]

Ivan Drago (Russian: Иван Драго, born November 3rd, 1961) is a Russian former professional boxer, Olympian, an Infantry Captain for the Soviet Army, and was the main antagonist in Rocky IV and a secondary antagonist in Creed II.

Drago was an amateur boxer and Olympic gold medallist from the Soviet Union, armed with a punch over 2,000 psi. As seen in the events from Rocky Legends, Drago was first scouted by Nicolai Koloff in Russia, Koloff was tasked with finding a fighter that could be built and sent to the United States in order to become champion. At the time, the Soviet Union and the United States were at war with each other and the Soviet Union wanted to prove their superiority. In 1985 (Rocky IV), Drago would fight one of America's greatest fighters Apollo Creed in an exhibition match, destroying him with ease and knocking him out in the second round, resulting in the death of Creed. Creed's close friend Rocky Balboa took it upon himself to avenge Creed and agreed to a fight against Drago in Russia, Drago lost the fight, making it his first and only loss ever. Drago was shamed by the USSR and exiled from Russia, forcing him to move to Ukraine. He was divorced by his wife Ludmilla Vobet and was forced to raise his son,Viktor, on his own. Drago trained his son ruthlessly for the next 20 years, attempting to make him a better boxer than he was.

In 2018 (Creed II), Drago issued a challenge to newly crowned Heavyweight Champion Adonis Creed, son of Apollo Creed on the behalf of his son, hoping to avenge his loss to Balboa all those years ago. Drago's son Viktor pummelled Creed in their first encounter but lost to Creed via disqualification because he punched Creed when he was down. Viktor had a rematch with Adonis in Russia, the fight was a war with both men destroying each other. In the final round, Viktor was very fatigued and had nothing left, he was unable to defend himself, causing Drago to throw the towel in for his son. Drago hugged his son, telling him he is proud of him. Drago is now focusing on developing a deeper bond with his son, training side-by-side with him.

The Soviet Union was extremely arrogant in Drago's abilities; however, Drago never bragged about it. His wife, Ludmilla Drago, spoke for him at press conferences, with Drago simply staring at the press without saying anything. He was given several nicknames, such as the Siberian Bull, the Siberian Express, and even Death from Above, referring to Drago's height and Apollo's death at the hands of Drago.

After the fall of Soviet Union, he had a son, Viktor Drago who succeeded him in his boxing career.