George Washington Duke



George Washington Duke is the main antagonist of the 1990 film Rocky V. He is an arrogant boxing promoter who wanted to profit out of newcoming boxers for his own needs.

He was portrayed by Richard Gant.

Role
Duke used to have at least 20 years of promoting some of the greatest boxing fights in history, though he wasn't able to sign up the famed fight Rocky Balboa. It wasn't until Rocky returned from Russia after defeating Ivan Drago to avenge Apollo Creed's death, that Duke introduced himself to Rocky and his family during their press conference. Duke offered to help Rocky in bringing more glory by setting up a fight with young boxer Union Cane, but Rocky respectfully declines, saying that he's retiring due to suffering brain damage thanks to Drago's brutal punches. Despite this, Duke still intends to get Rocky into the fight by hounding him and his family, much to their annoyance.

Eventually, the Balboa family lost their fortune after Uncle Paulie was tricked to sign off their power of attorney to their accountant, who squandered the money off in bad real estate deals. As such, the Balboa family is forced back to move into their old neighborhood, though Rocky takes comfort in re-opening his old gym where his old trainer Mickey Goldmill trained him. Eventually, Rocky takes in and trains a young Oklahoma fighter named Tommy Gunn, who hopes to following in Rocky's footsteps as a renowned boxer. As time passes by, Duke (along with his aides Merlin and Karen) watch as Rocky help Tommy win a series of fights, climbing himself into the ranks of boxing history. A delighted Duke takes the opportunity to shower Gunn with luxuries as a reward before promoting him a shot against Union Cane for the title, much to Rocky's disapproval.

Rocky tried to convince Tommy not to let Duke have his way with him by pointing out that Duke is running a dirty business in leeching off great boxers, but Tommy felt resentful toward the fact that he's living under Rocky's shadow, and decided to leave for Duke so that he can earn more fame to himself, much to Rocky's distraught. Though Tommy was able to beat Cane to win the title fair and square, he gave ulimate credit to Duke instead of Rocky, which incited the disgusted audience and press to jeer at Tommy for abandoning Rocky. Duke then convinced Tommy to challenge Rocky into a fight in the ring in order to get the respect he gets.

To that end, Duke and Tommy called Rocky out to challenge, but Rocky refuses, prompting an annoyed Tommy to start insulting him. Paulie tried to defend Rocky's honor by pointing out that Tommy abandoned him to satisfy both his and Duke's gree, but this only incites an angry Tommy to punch Paulie in the face, much to Rocky's distraught. Declaring this as the last straw, Rocky angrily accepts the challenge by saying that his ring's outside on the streets. Overhearing this, Duke suggested that both Rocky and Tommy should fight in the arena to settle their score, but Tommy angrily yells that Duke doesn't own him and that he want to get it over with. Realizing now that he can't stop it, Duke orders Tommy to finish Rocky off or he'll lose everything he earned. Eventually, Rocky defeats Tommy before confronting Duke for causing the mess in the first place. Duke threatened to sue Rocky if he touches him, but Rocky just punches Duke into a car with an uppercut, pointing out that he can't sue him because he's broke. This resulted the witnessing citizens to cheer for Rocky, leaving both Duke and Tommy in utter defeat.

It is unknown what happened to Duke afterwards, though it might by likely that he would be arrested alongside Tommy for provoking the fight against Rocky in the streets.