Chuck Wepner

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox boxer Charles Wepner (born February 26, 1939) is an American former professional boxer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He fell just nineteen seconds short of a full fifteen rounds against world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 championship fight. Wepner also scored notable wins over Randy Neumann and former world heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell. He was also the last man to fight former undisputed world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston.

Wepner's boxing career, and fight with Ali, inspired the 1976 film Rocky,<ref>Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from March 1st, 1986</ref> and other life events were chronicled in the 2016 film, Chuck. He was also the subject of the 2019 film The Brawler.

Early life

Charles Wepner was born on February 26, 1939, in New York City.<ref>"Chuck Wepner" Template:Webarchive, BoxRec.com; retrieved September 27, 2016.</ref> He is of German, Ukrainian, and Polish descent.<ref>Gambardello, Joseph A. (November 20, 2003). "'Rocky' meets reality The fighter who inspired the movies has gone to court to win a share of the profits. He said he has gotten nothing" Template:Webarchive, philly.com; accessed November 21, 2017.</ref>

Wepner learned to fight on the streets of Bayonne, New Jersey,<ref name=lmtwho>Template:Cite news</ref> saying, "This was a tough town with a lot of people from the docks and the naval base and you had to fight to survive". Wepner was about a year old when he moved in with his grandmother on 28th Street near Hudson Boulevard (now Kennedy Boulevard). He was raised by his mother and grandparents, living in a room that was a converted coal shed until he was 13. He was an avid player of sports in his youth, playing basketball for the Police Athletic League. At Bayonne High School, his height helped him get a spot on the basketball team.<ref>Sullivan, Joseph F. "Bayonne Cheers a Hometown Product; 'Good Luck, Chuck'", The New York Times, March 22, 1975. Accessed April 18, 2020. "Mr. Wepner said that he was a gangling six‐footer when he was 13 years old and that the added height helped him win a berth on the Bayonne High School basketball team."</ref>

At the age of 15, Wepner decided he would join the U.S. Marines, inspired by the movie Battle Cry.<ref name="BBC Sport">Template:Cite news</ref> In the Marines, he became a member of the boxing team, developing a reputation for being able to withstand other boxers' punches, and becoming a military champion at one of the airbases. A 1975 Sports Illustrated article said that Wepner had saved the lives of three Marine pilots, pulling them from blazing airplanes.<ref name="HudsonReporter">Sullivan, Al (January 27, 2007). "'The Bayonne Bleeder' Chuck Wepner, the real life Rocky" Template:Webarchive</ref>

Career

Wepner turned professional in 1964 and became a popular boxer on the Northeast's Club Boxing circuit, where he began posting many wins and some losses fighting throughout the region, including in arenas close to his boyhood home such as North Bergen and Secaucus.<ref name="HudsonReporter" />

Nicknamed "The Bayonne Bleeder" due to repeated facial injuries in the ring, he took the name that was initially meant as an insult and made it his nom de guerre. In an interview with the BBC, Wepner said "I was a big bleeder. I had 328 stitches in my career. My nose was broken nine times in 16 years. And, uh, it never fazed me, you know?"<ref name="BBC Sport"/>

Wepner had formerly boxed while a member of the United States Marine Corps, and had worked as a bouncer before turning pro.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was the New Jersey state heavyweight boxing champion, but after losing bouts to George Foreman (by cut eye stoppage in three) and Sonny Liston (by technical knockout in nine) many boxing fans thought that his days as a contender were numbered. After the match with Liston, Wepner needed 72 stitches in his face.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After his retirement, Wepner stated that Liston was the hardest puncher he ever fought.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

However, after losing to Joe Bugner by a cut eye stoppage in three in England, Wepner won nine of his next eleven bouts, including victories over Charlie Polite and former WBA heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell.

Muhammad Ali fight

In 1975, it was announced that Wepner would challenge Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (February 9, 1975, Page 4-C), Carl Lombardo invested $1.3 million to finance the Wepner-Ali heavyweight title bout. According to a Time article, "In Stitches", Ali was guaranteed $1.5 million and Wepner signed for $100,000. This was considerably more than Wepner had ever earned; thus, he "needed no coaxing." Wepner spent eight weeks training in the Catskill Mountains under the guidance of Al Braverman (trainer and noted cutman) and Bill Prezant (manager).

Prezant prophesied that the match would be a big surprise. This bout was the first time Wepner had been able to train full-time; since 1970 his typical day had consisted of road work in the morning, followed by his job selling liquor during the day. Then he was able to spend his nights working out and sparring in Bayonne boxing clubs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The match was held on March 24 at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, south of Cleveland. Before the match, a reporter asked Wepner if he thought he could survive in the ring with the champion, to which Wepner allegedly answered, "I've been a survivor my whole life ... if I survived the Marines, I can survive Ali."Template:Citation needed

In the ninth round, Wepner scored a knockdown, which Ali said occurred because Wepner was stepping on his foot. Published photographs showed Wepner stepping on Ali's foot at the time of the knockdown. Wepner went to his corner and said to his manager Al Braverman, "Al, start the car. We're going to the bank. We are millionaires." To this, Wepner's manager replied: "You better turn around. He's getting up and he looks pissed off."<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

In the remaining rounds, Ali decisively outboxed Wepner and opened up cuts above both of Wepner's eyes and broke his nose. Wepner was far behind on the scorecards when Ali knocked him down with 19 seconds left in the 15th round. The referee counted to seven before calling a technical knockout.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After the Ali-Wepner bout, Sylvester Stallone wrote the script for Rocky, which was released in theatres in 1976. Like Wepner, (Rocky) Balboa lasts 15 rounds, but unlike Wepner, he actually "goes the distance".<ref name="usa">Template:Cite news</ref> For years after Rocky was released, Stallone denied that Wepner provided inspiration for the movie, though he eventually admitted it.<ref name="ESPN Wepner Recognized">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="The Real Rocky2">Template:Cite video</ref>

Late career

In 1976, Wepner fought professional wrestler André the Giant and lost by countout after Andre threw him out of the ring.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

On October 25, 1977, Wepner went to Japan and lost to Antonio Inoki in a Wrestler vs Boxer match.

Wepner's last match was on May 2, 1978, for the New Jersey state heavyweight championship against a new rising prospect, Scott Frank, noted for using a heavy left hook.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wepner lost the match in a 12-round decision, but again proved durable. He announced his retirement afterwards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later life

After his retirement from boxing, Wepner began abusing drugs. In 1979, Sylvester Stallone wanted to cast Wepner as a sparring partner in Rocky II, but he failed the audition due to his drug problems.<ref name="usa" />

In November 1985, Wepner was arrested on drug charges when he was found with four ounces of cocaine in an undercover police investigation. Under a plea-bargain agreement, he was sentenced in 1988 to ten years in prison.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He served 17 months in Northern State Prison, Newark, New Jersey, then spent another 20 months in New Jersey's intensive supervision program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2003, Wepner sued Sylvester Stallone, seeking payment for his use as the inspiration for Rocky and the film series. The lawsuit was settled with Stallone in 2006 for an undisclosed amount.<ref name="The Real Rocky2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of 2010, Wepner had been working for 10 years with his third wife Linda in the liquor sales field for Majestic Wines and Spirits in Carlstadt, New Jersey, and was an expert in consumer liquors, wines and spirits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A film about Wepner's career was released in 2012,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and ESPN aired a documentary titled The Real Rocky on October 25, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The ESPN film features a clip of Wepner's ninth round knockdown of Muhammad Ali in their 1975 world heavyweight title bout.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Wepner sues over 'Copycat' film. Wepner, the boxer who inspired the character of Rocky Balboa, is preparing for a legal fight over his life story.</ref>

Ring appearances

Wepner occasionally makes ringside appearances at boxing cards in his home state of New Jersey, signing autographs and posing for photos with boxing fans. On October 12, 2012, Wepner appeared ringside with former World Light Heavyweight champion Mike Rossman in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at a Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City fight card featuring a WBA NABA Lightweight title bout in the main event. Wepner held the WBA NABA heavyweight title during his boxing career.

Portrayals and inspirations

• Sylvester Stallone's character Rocky Balboa and portions of the Rocky film series were inspired by the life of Chuck Wepner.<ref>"The Greatest Underdog Story Ever Told | Stallone On Making ROCKY"/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PISX0iaMsXc</ref> For instance, it was speculated that a scene from the 1982 film Rocky III had been influenced by Wepner's fight against Andre the Giant, as the movie features a match versus wrestler Hulk Hogan as "Thunderlips", who throws Rocky out of the ring.<ref name="ESPN Wepner Recognized" /><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
• Liev Schreiber played the role of Wepner in a sports film, Chuck.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Zach McGowan played the role of Wepner in another sports film, The Brawler.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 2022, a statue of Wepner was unveiled in Collins Park in Bayonne.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The project had been several years in the works.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional boxing record

Template:S-end

External links

• Template:Boxrec
• Chuck Wepner – The Real Rocky, by Peter Hossli, January 1, 2007.
• Template:IMDb name

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round(s), time	Date	Location	Notes
52	Template:No2Loss	Template:Nowrap	Template:Flagicon Scott Frank	UD	12	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
51	Template:Yes2Win	36–13–2	Template:Flagicon Tom Healy	TKO	5 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
50	Template:Yes2Win	35–13–2	Template:Flagicon Johnny Blaine	TKO	3 (10)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
49	Template:No2Loss	34–13–2	Template:Flagicon Horst Geisler	TKO	10 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
48	Template:No2Loss	34–12–2	Template:Flagicon Mike Schutte	PTS	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
47	Template:No2Loss	34–11–2	Template:Flagicon Duane Bobick	TKO	6 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
46	Template:Yes2Win	34–10–2	Template:Flagicon Tommy Sheehan	TKO	2 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
45	Template:Yes2Win	33–10–2	Template:Flagicon Johnny Dolan	KO	3 (10)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	32–10–2	Template:Flagicon Johnny Evans	TKO	4 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
43	Template:No2Loss	31–10–2	Template:Flagicon Muhammad Ali	TKO	15 (15), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	31–9–2	Template:Flagicon Terry Hinke	TKO	11 (12), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
41	Template:Yes2Win	30–9–2	Template:Flagicon Charley Polite	TKO	4 (10)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
40	Template:Yes2Win	29–9–2	Template:Flagicon Randy Neumann	TKO	6 (12)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
39	Template:Yes2Win	28–9–2	Template:Flagicon Billy Williams	PTS	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
38	Template:Yes2Win	27–9–2	Template:Flagicon Ernie Terrell	PTS	12	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
37	Template:Yes2Win	26–9–2	Template:Flagicon Billy Marquart	PTS	12	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
36	Template:Yes2Win	25–9–2	Template:Flagicon John Clohessy	PTS	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	24–9–2	Template:Flagicon Randy Neumann	PTS	12	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
34	Template:No2Loss	23–9–2	Template:Flagicon Randy Neumann	PTS	12	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
33	Template:Yes2Win	23–8–2	Template:Flagicon Mike Boswell	TKO	10 (10)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
32	Template:Yes2Win	22–8–2	Template:Flagicon Jesse Crown	KO	4 (10)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
31	Template:No2Loss	21–8–2	Template:Flagicon Jerry Judge	TKO	5 (8)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
30	Template:No2Loss	21–7–2	Template:Flagicon Joe Bugner	RTD	3 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
29	Template:No2Loss	21–6–2	Template:Flagicon Sonny Liston	Template:Abbr	9 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
28	Template:Yes2Win	21–5–2	Template:Flagicon Manuel Ramos	UD	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	20–5–2	Template:Flagicon Pedro Agosto	UD	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
26	Template:No2Loss	19–5–2	Template:Flagicon George Foreman	TKO	3 (8), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
25	Template:No2Loss	19–4–2	Template:Flagicon José Roman	PTS	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
24	Template:Yes2Win	19–3–2	Template:Flagicon Mike Bruce	PTS	8	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
23	Template:Yes2Win	18–3–2	Template:Flagicon Roberto Davila	MD	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
22	Template:Yes2Win	17–3–2	Template:Flagicon Jerry Tomasetti	TKO	1 (10), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	16–3–2	Template:Flagicon Mert Brownfield	Template:Abbr	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	15–3–2	Template:Flagicon Forest Ward	TKO	7 (8)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	14–3–2	Template:Flagicon Mike Bruce	PTS	8	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
18	Template:Yes2Win	13–3–2	Template:Flagicon Eddie Vick	SD	10	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
17	Template:Yes2Win	12–3–2	Template:Flagicon Clay Thomas	TKO	3 (8), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	11–3–2	Template:Flagicon Charlie Harris	TKO	6 (8)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
15	Template:No2Loss	10–3–2	Template:Flagicon Jerry Tomasetti	TKO	5 (6), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
14	Template:Yes2Win	10–2–2	Template:Flagicon Don McAteer	TKO	7 (8), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	9–2–2	Template:Flagicon Lou Hicks	UD	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	8–2–2	Template:Flagicon Dave Centi	PTS	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
11	Template:Yes2Win	7–2–2	Template:Flagicon Johnny Deutsch	TKO	6 (6)	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	6–2–2	Template:Flagicon Cleo Daniels	UD	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	5–2–2	Template:Flagicon Jerry Tomasetti	UD	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
8	Template:No2Loss	4–2–2	Template:Flagicon Buster Mathis	Template:Abbr	3 (6), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
7	Template:No2Loss	4–1–2	Template:Flagicon Bob Stallings	SD	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
6	Draw	4–0–2	Template:Flagicon Everett Copeland	PTS	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	4–0–1	Template:Flagicon Raymond Patterson	Template:Abbr	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	3–0–1	Template:Flagicon Jerry Tomasetti	Template:Abbr	4	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
3	Draw	2–0–1	Template:Flagicon Everett Copeland	Template:Abbr	6	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Template:Flagicon Rudy Pavesi	Template:Abbr	4	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Template:Flagicon George Cooper	Template:Abbr	3 (4), Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Flagicon Template:Small