As Sylvester Stallone pondered what to write about, he decided to write about his particular dilemma of feeling limited, without much opportunity to really present himself and what he can do. That spark was a universal theme that Stallone realized many out there probably felt, but he was greatly interested in what made certain people rise to the challenge after they are given that opportunity. 
Actor Burt Young would remark in the three part documentary In The Ring, “Some would’ve thought it was a fight picture. I knew it was love story, where life and life’s environment helped stray people stand up, stand tall.” Stallone handed the first draft of Rocky to Robert Chartoff, who loved the script and was charmed by the character. He immediately sent it to Irwin Winkler, who also fell in love with the story about an unknown who rises up far above what he is. 
When a friend of director John G. Alvidson mentioned to read this new boxing script, he wasn’t interested in doing a movie about what he called a “pretty stupid sport,” but the friend convinced Alvidson to read it. Like with Chartoff and Winkler, Alvidson was charmed, realizing it was more than just a boxing movie, and agreed to direct it.
