The shift between the second and third installments lessened the focus on Rocky's relationships with his family and companions, shifting instead toward boxing matches; even so, it remained uplifting and enjoyable. I’m unsure of the changes made here, but it felt as though they attempted to return the attention to the characters, only to mishandle it completely. The outcome was simply dreadful. It wasn't about Rocky not fighting or the fact that Tommy Gun seemed like a treacherous friend who exploited him and then abandoned him; rather, it was the way everything was presented. This could have been the beginning of an engaging narrative centered on Rocky as a coach, but instead, it fell flat. The emotional depth within his family was lost, resulting in a confusing plot that suggested potential but ultimately failed to achieve it. It ought to have remained a more intimate story, yet it strayed from that path once Tommy Gun appeared, devolving into a jumbled narrative seemingly unsure of its direction. Still, the same fundamental idea was explored in Creed, and this time (despite some excusable shortcomings in the writing, it was executed well). This was partly due to Jordan’s superior acting compared to Morrison's, but mostly because it fulfilled what it set out to do, and the story felt more logical from beginning to end.

Source on TMDB