Sylvester Stallone has broken his silence after the passing of his Rocky co-star Carl Weathers.

The 77-year-old Hollywood icon and Rocky mastermind has paid a tear-jerking tribute to Apollo Creed star Carl Weathers after the actor passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 76.

In the Rocky film series, Weathers portrayed Rocky Balboa’s adversary-turned-boxing coach with the two actors forming a close bond over the years after a ‘rough’ start.

“We lost a legend yesterday. My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power and keep punching,” Stallone wrote in the caption of his viral video.

In the emotional clip, the actor choked up as he recalled his friendship with Weathers.

“Hello everyone. Today is an incredibly sad day for me. I mean, I’m so torn up I can’t even tell you,” he said.

“I’m just trying to hold it in, because Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life, of my success. Everything about it, I give him incredible credit and kudos. Because when he walked into that room and saw him for the first time, I saw greatness.

“But I didn’t realize how great. I never could have accomplished what we did with Rocky without him. He was absolutely brilliant, his voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability. But more importantly, his heart, his soul… It’s a horrible loss.”

Concluding his statement, Stallone drew attention to the painting behind him which showed him and Weathers together in the ring. “So Apollo… keep punching,” he said.

What are your thoughts on this news? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends. For more news and stories, follow us on Facebook!