Tony "Duke" Evers was Apollo Creed's trainer in the first four films. In the first and second films, Duke trained Creed to compete against Rocky Balboa. In the third film, he helped Creed train Rocky to defeat James "Clubber" Lang in a rematch after the shocking death of Rocky's trainer Mickey Goldmill. In the fourth film, he trains Rocky Balboa to fight against Ivan Drago to avenge the wrongful death of Creed. Ever since then, Duke remains as Rocky's primary trainer. In the sixth film in the Rocky series, 2006's Rocky Balboa, he would train Rocky to compete against Mason Dixon. The part of Duke is played by veteran character actor Tony Burton, who himself also fought professionally in the Light Heavyweight ranks.