Sylvester Stallone has performed the hardest of Hollywood hardmen in the whole lot from the Rocky to the Rambo franchises.

Rocky 3 is again on ITV tonight and exhibits the eponymous boxer nearly down and out as his life and profession hit the mat.

Real life echoed the dramatic plot when Stallone discovered himself filming a terrifying scene within the ring and dealing with off in opposition to a towering titan who charged him like "an enraged bull."

After he was smashed to the ground, the 'mangled' star begged everybody to not transfer him as he feared he had damaged his collarbone.

Three years later he would discover himself hospitalised by Dolph Lundgren in 1985's Rocky IV however Stallone has confessed he has by no means felt extra ache in his life than throughout his bone-crunching pummelling in Rocky 3.

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Stallone stated: "At 6 feet 7 and 295 pounds with 24-inch biceps! He was an amazing athlete! Incredibly powerful. I remember a violent move where he threw me into the corner, charged across the ring like an ENRAGED bull and leaped so amazingly high above me that his shin-bone actually came down (like a) giant tree on my collarbone, and I tumbled to the floor.

"I used to be afraid to have a look at my shoulder for about 10 minutes... I stated, 'Don't roll me over, do not transfer me,' as a result of I used to be positive there was bone protruding by way of my higher chest!"

Stallone added: "Of course there wasn't however I've by no means felt such a mind-numbing ache from an enormous hit earlier than or since that day!"

Rocky 3 includes an impressive line-up of tough guy like Carl Weathers. At 6'1 the Apollo Creed actor towers over both Stallone and 5'9 Mr T, who plays the main antagonist, Clubber Lang. However, everyone on set was dwarfed by the 6'7 bleach-blond might of the world's most famous wrestler (in the film and in real life).

Stallone, who clocks in at a modest 5'8, paid tribute to his co-star in an Instagram post: "Another flashback and one more reason why it is not such an amazing concept to at all times do your personal stunts! I met Terry Bollea aka THUNDERLIPS aka HULK HOGAN In the very early 80s after I was directing Rocky III."

Hogan only has a minor role in the film during a staged charity exhibition match, but he left a painful impression on more than just his famous leading man.

Stallone, 75, added: "Believe it or not when he jumped into the viewers to struggle with the stuntmen, three of them needed to be handled on the hospital.

"Great guy, great friend, his presence made the film very, very special. HULK, if you're reading this, it was a privilege to be mangled by such a gentleman.''

69-year old Hogan, real name Terry Eugene Bollea, publicly laid down a challenge for a repeat match: "I need to struggle Stallone once more like I did in Rocky III. I have not heard something although, nothing. I'm praying for it although, I'd adore it... It could be a number of enjoyable standing reverse him, face-to-face."