After suffering a “Rocky II” injury that tore his “Pec Off the Bone,” Sylvester Stallone believed “My Career Is Over.” However, he boxed right-handed and said, “We Don’t Quit.”

According to Sylvester Stallone, a near-career-ending injury in the build-up to “Rocky II” threatened to ruin the boxing series before its first sequel got off the ground. This was disclosed on the TMZ special “Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons” (via The Daily Mail). About a month and a half before to the filming of “Rocky 2,” Stallone was working out with bodybuilder Franco Columbu when he tore his pec muscle completely off the bone.

“I descend, and it weighs maybe only 200 [lbs].” I hear a POW as I’m just getting warmed up! Stallone recalled. “I drop to the ground. Franco responds, “Let me see.” He shatters his pec off the bone, squeezing his fingers together. Bad, that is. I heard it snap, and his fingers were jammed. And I believe I’m about to pass out.

“I return home. I think my career is done. In a month and a half, I’m supposed to start ‘Rocky II,’ direct it, and do everything,” Stallone said. “This is where it differs—Schwarzenegger would have acted in the same manner. .. I’ll swap this arm for Rocky because I can’t use it. He is a right-handed fighter.

Fans of the first “Rocky” movie may have questioned why Stallone’s character in the follow-up had vision issues and had to learn how to box with his right hand in order to face Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). It turns out it wasn’t Stallone’s original idea for “Rocky II,” but rather the outcome of his left hand injury, which prevented him from boxing.

Regarding the storyline twist, Stallone said it was “completely illogical.” “But I told them, ‘I’m not going to stop this movie for this.'” And this was not a nice wound. I took a different arm. That was among the crucial elements. However, it’s fascinating how these amazing adventures come to pass. However, we don’t give up or stop trying.

After making $200 million at the global box office upon its June 1979 release, “Rocky II” became the third highest-grossing film of the year. The 1976 original “Rocky” was a surprise smash and won the best picture Oscar, proving Stallone had a successful franchise on his hands.