#Sylvester Stallone reveals he almost died during ‘Rocky IV’

It was almost a TKO.

Sylvester Stallone feared that he was going to die and go to heaven after a “Rocky IV” fight scene with actor Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago character went astray.

The actors starred as opposing boxers in the fourth film, released in 1985, of the beloved “Rocky” series.

Stallone, 75, reflected on the filming of the sports drama scene on his YouTube channel’s recent video, The Making of Rocky vs. Drago by Sylvester Stallone.

“The first thing we shot [was] my entrance, his entrance and the introductions and then I got really injured during the fight and I had to be flown into intensive care to California from Canada,” said “The Expendables” actor.

He continued, “Well, he pulverized me. And I didn’t feel it in the moment, but later that night my heart started to swell. My blood pressure went up to 260 and I was going to be talking to angels, next thing I know I’m on this emergency, low-altitude flight.”

“I’m in intensive care surrounded by nuns and then after that, I had to go back and finish the fight,” he said.

Stallone then explained that he stayed in the ICU for four days before returning to film the rest of the final fight scene, adding that Lundgren’s strong hit to his chest is “what’s in the original movie.” 

“How could you take that out?” he said. 

To celebrate the film’s anniversary, a director’s cut of “Rocky IV” will be released in theaters for one day only on Nov. 11.

Stallone’s “Rocky” memorabilia is set to be up for auction in December. His signature red boxing gloves from “Rocky III” — alongside with nearly 500 other props used in movies throughout the actor’s career — are expected to make up to $1.5 million. The gloves will likely sell for $10,000 to $20,000 at the event.