u/Mean_Caramel9187

In the directors cut we see Apollo fight back, see in the second round Apollo threw a powered hook that should have took dragos head off and made the crowd go berserk
But it made his right cheek a bit bruised/red as we see Apollo throw punches at the mid section we see Drago start to crack, he’s starting to feel pain from those punches which is why Rocky used that for his fight with Drago
I feel like sly took the scenes where Apollo fights back out because he thought the audience would not wanna see Apollo throw weak punches
But aye weak punches is better than no punches.