He was the "challenger" only because he was hand picked out of a folder by Creed who wanted the publicity of giving a total nobody a title shot. Nobody thought Rocky had a chance or could pose a viable challenge.
Everything I'm claiming is backed up by the scenes I am posting yet you keep doubling down on terrible analysis
No, the issue this whole time is you making statements like "everyone but Mickey" and "Lang is where Rocky was in Rocky 1" and then crying about those posts being debunked and crying about your words being taken literally instead of figuratively.
Lang was the #1 ranked contender. Rocky was a nobody literally helping a low level gangster run a protection racket LMAO.
Rockys manager was scared of Lang and intentionally avoiding his challenger/contender status. Creeds manager had never heard of Balboa.
Saying they're in the same place is like saying you and Marvin the fucking Martian are in the same place because you're both in the same universe lmao
Also, you keep clinging to real life boxing rules - you know it's a fictional movie universe. Is the boxing association ever even mentioned?