Wepner inspiration for “Rocky”
Some 44 years after he inspired a billion-dollar cinematic franchise, Chuck Wepner was a movie star, albeit very briefly. “The Real Rocky,” a made-for-television documentary, premiered on ESPN in late October 2011. For those who believed Sylvester Stallone hijacked Wepner’s soul, this film was an attempt to help Wepner get his soul back.
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Chuck Wepner sends Muhammad Ali to the canvas in the ninth round of their fight in 1975.
Before earning movie star status, the legacy of New Jersey’s Chuck Wepner (born to Ukrainian Dolores Hrynko) was derived from his 15-round battle with Muhammad Ali and a six-movie series based on that fight. He was known as “The Bayonne Bleeder.”
Wepner got branded with the nickname on June 29, 1970, when the 31-year-old journeyman heavyweight with a record of 20-5-2 took on former champion Sonny Liston in Jersey City, N.J. At a bit over 6-foot-5, Wepner might have won more bouts if he had chosen to fight more from the outside, Klitschko-style, instead of utilizing a toe-to-toe, inside plan of attack. He pressed the fight against Liston and walked away with a broken nose (one of 11 in his career), a cracked left cheekbone and 72 stitches (among a total of 338 in his 15-years in the ring).
Wepner claims it was Bayonne Times sports editor Jerry Rosenberg who bestowed upon him his degrading, yet forever charming nickname that night. It seemed Rosenberg’s tan leisure suit became polka-dotted red as the fight wore on, thanks to his ringside seats.
The Liston fight ended when a beat-up, near-blind Wepner grazed the referee with a left hook, forcing the state boxing commissioner to jump in and wave the bout over.
Wepner seriously considered retirement from the ring following the Liston loss, before deciding to take one more shot at heavyweight glory. “The Bayonne Bleeder” lost both of his next two fights on cuts, then won two, lost another, and then enjoyed his best career streak by winning eight fights in a row. The streak included a win over Ernie Terrell, two over Randy Neumann and a knockout of Terry Hinke. Promoter Don King promised Wepner the next shot at heavyweight champ George Foreman, who was supposed to pummel Ali in a Zaire title match. When Ali rope-a-doped his way to an eighth-round knockout, Wepner assumed his title shot had disappeared.
Promoter King surprised the boxing world by scheduling champion Ali with challenger Wepner in a heavyweight fight and, as of the date March 24, 1975, the latter’s life was forever altered.
The 40-to-1 underdog Wepner successfully pressed the action against an undertrained Ali for the first eight rounds. In the ensuing round, a powerful right hand under the heart sent the champ to the canvas – only the third time ever Ali had been knocked down. (The presence of Wepner’s foot on top of Ali’s may have aided the knockdown.) The surprisingly competitive fight dramatically changed course.
An irate Ali went on to totally batter Wepner over the next six rounds until late in Round 15, when the challenger was floored with a left-right combination. At the count of six, with a stumbling Wepner trying to get to his feet, referee Tony Perez waved off the fight with a mere 19 seconds left on the clock.
Stallone scripts “Rocky”
Struggling actor Sylvester Stallone watched the Ali-Wepner fight at a theater in Los Angeles and then used it as inspiration to write a script for a movie called “Rocky.” Reportedly it was not based on a true story, but did borrow heavily from a true story. By the movie’s release date of December 3, 1976, the word was that Wepner was Stallone’s muse.
Complicated would be a most appropriate adjective to describe the Wepner-Stallone relationship over time. Wepner is grateful the film franchise made his 15 minutes of fame everlasting. Stallone offered Wepner the role of sparring partner “Chink Weber” in “Rocky II,” only to have Wepner fail his audition. Wepner forever claimed Stallone promised him a part when the right movie came along. Twenty years later, when Stallone was filming “Copland” in New Jersey and had not offered the former heavyweight a role, Wepner gave up on the hope of a movie part.
In 2003 Wepner sued Stallone for cashing in on his life story and never offering any compensation to “the real Rocky.” The suit was quietly reconciled when Wepner accepted an undisclosed settlement from Stallone.
The publicity from the Wepner-Stallone legal fight garnered the attention of “The Real Rocky” documentary director Jeff Feuerzeig and executive producer Mike Tollin. The former hails from New Jersey and was 10 years old when Wepner fought Ali in 1975. The heroes in New Jersey back then were Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Wepner – underdogs who proved you can start from nothing and become someone. Tollin, a Philadelphia native, and Feuerzeig spent quality time with Wepner and pondered possible projects after listening to some of the boxer’s true-life experiences.
In addition to their documentary, Tollin and Feuerzeig crafted a feature film titled “Chuck,” released in September 2016, with an actor of Ukrainian descent, Liev Schreiber, starring as Wepner. It was hailed as a drama based on the life of heavyweight boxer Wepner, who had a once-in-a-lifetime bout with Ali that would inspire the film “Rocky.” (During filming, the joke was that a small part would be offered to Stallone.)
Wepner’s life was full of the unexpected. He once wrestled “Andre the Giant” at Shea Stadium (probably inspiring the Balboa-Thunderlips scene in “Rocky III”), got tossed around by a grizzly bear twice, and became a celebrity on the New Jersey shore party scene in the 1980s. He abused cocaine, chased women, ruined a marriage and ended up in jail for drug possession.
Amazingly enough, he regrets nothing in the very full life he has led. He partied with friends who owned go-go clubs, had fun, got in trouble and cleaned up his act. He retired from professional boxing with a record of 35-14-2 and will never be enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame as Stallone was in 2011.
It is a matter of opinion as to whether Stallone hijacked his soul. It is a matter of fact that Sly hijacked elements of Wepner’s story. Wepner was fortunate to see and hear his version of his story told on small and big screens alike. He gained more cinematic exposure as the subject of a second film, “The Brawler,” released in 2019.
Wepner was inducted into the Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
Ihor Stelmach may be reached at [email protected].