The two previous Creed films (2015 and 2018) whilst never in the Oscar contender category were always entertaining. The mix of the old time boxer in Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and the youthful enthusiasm of the young pretender to his crown, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordon) worked well.

For the latest instalment with Stallone opting out due a possible fall out with the film’s producer Irwin Winkler, the baton this time is well and truly passed to the new guard. Which is not for the better unfortunately as the absence of Stallone leaves a massive hole that the film struggles to fill.

After a flash back to 2002, where we see a young Adonis violently assaulting a man and then letting his friend Damian take the rap for it, we move to the present where Adonis is now retired from boxing and living with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and daughter.

Happy running a gym and promoting fights Adonis’s life is shaken when Damien (Jonathan Majors), a keen amateur boxer, returns after a 20 year stretch in jail looking for Adonis to get him a shot at the world heavy-weight title.

Before you can say round two and after Victor Drago (Florian Munteanu returning from Creed 2) is injured Damien steps in to fill his boxing shoes and gets a shot at the title.

As is the way of the Rocky and Creed films the fights are the highlight of the film and they don’t disappoint this time unfortunately the same can’t be said of the story. The first half of the Creed 3 is well paced and easily the best part of the film. Sadly the story stutters in the second due to a predictable story that leads to an ending that will come as a surprise to no one.

Creed 3, which is the directorial debut of its star Michael B. Jordon, isn’t a bad film and is enjoyable on its own merit. It’s just disappointing given how good the two previous films were.