Boxing gloves, worn by Sylvester Stallone in Rocky II: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Red boxing gloves worn by Sylvester Stallone in the 1979 film Rocky II<. Sylvester Stallone autographed one of the gloves and the words "Rocky II 6/5/78" are handwritten on the other. This film is the second installment in the boxing film series following a small-time boxer's struggles both in and out of the ring.

The Rocky film series has been one of the most successful and critically acclaimed sports film franchises in American history. The 1976 film Rocky told the inspirational story of a small-time boxer's famous fight with heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the film, which was directed by John G. Avildsen and produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff. Despite its relatively low budget and unknown star, Rocky was a critical and box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1976, and earning three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In the eight sequel films and other adaptations that have followed in the franchise, the Rocky series has explored themes ranging from the American Dream and perseverance against adversity while also provoking conversations about ethnicity, race, masculinity, the Cold War, and socioeconomic inequality. Several of the Rocky films have earned critical acclaim as among the greatest sports movies of all time, and the films' scores, including theme song "Gonna Fly Now," have also earned critical and popular success.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1978
• user: Stallone, Sylvester
• maker: Cleto
• Object Name: Boxing Gloves
• Physical Description: leather, cotton, synthetic textile, plastic, ink, foam (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 11 in x 6 in x 4 in; 27.94 cm x 15.24 cm x 10.16 cm
• Measurements: overall; single glove: 11 in x 5 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in; 27.94 cm x 13.97 cm x 11.43 cm
• Subject: Entertainment, Film
• ID Number: 2006.0231.04
• accession number: 2006.0231
• catalog number: 2006.0231.04
• Credit Line: Gift of Sylvester Stallone
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.