One more observation: even the crowd noises at the beginning, clapping in anticipation, and the excitement in the MC's voice, are a perfect intro, like "Boy, are you in for a great performance!"
Most people think Bill Conti is a genius film composer because of "Gonna Fly Now", but IMHO "Going the Distance" shows off his genius even more - this scene would absolutely not work without the nuances in this piece, from the ominous "bell" intro when you have the sinking realization it's going ...
One more observation: even the crowd noises at the beginning, clapping in anticipation, and the excitement in the MC's voice, are a perfect intro, like "Boy, are you in for a great performance!"