I’ve never watched a boxing match from beginning to end in my entire life, yet I’m completely drawn to films about the sport. Like baseball, boxing is seeped in tradition and rich with human drama; something filmmakers have been able to tap into with great success. On behalf of ESPN Films, director Jeff Feuerzeig (The Devil and Daniel Johnston) tackles the story of Chuck Wepner and his historic fight against Muhammad Ali and the influence it had on Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky. It’s a true underdog story that’s rich in drama and a perfect opportunity for some great cinematic storytelling.
For those unfamiliar with Chuck Wepner, it’s probably easiest — although maybe a disservice — to simply describe him as the title of this film suggests: the real Rocky. It was his match with Muhammad Ali in 1975 that inspired the Academy Award winning film, jumpstarting a franchise that has since generated over a billion dollars. Like the story of the film, Wepner was picked out of obscurity to fight Ali in an underdog match that resulted in him going fifteen rounds with arguably the greatest boxer who ever lived. Even though Ali won the decision in the end, Wepner’s heart and determination resonated with the crowd and boxing fans around the world. He even knocked Ali down in the ninth round, which would later be disputed by those who thought he unfairly stepped on Ali’s foot. It’s a great underdog story and proof that we simply can’t resist rooting for someone who’s facing unsurmountable odds. It’s interesting considering the fact that Ali was himself a sort of underdog in his historic match against George Foreman, as detailed in the amazing film When We Were Kings. In that case I was rooting FOR Ali. In his match against Wepner, I was quite clearly rooting AGAINST him. I suppose the romance of the underdog story even trumps the charms of Muhammad Ali.
Now 72 years old, Wepner tells his story directly to the camera in extreme close up, giving us opportunity to examine the remnants of every fight he’s ever fought. This stylized presentation is heightened by a black and white sequence set in a classic boxing bar as old school sports writers smoke cigars and reminisce about the days of Wepner’s fight and whether or not his Ali knockdown was legit. There’s also discussion of Wepner’s nickname, “The Bayonne Bleeder”, referencing a match with Sonny Liston that resulted in 120 stitches in his face. All of the roundtable reminiscing plays like a celebration of the sport and the traditions surrounding it. It also captures the feel of a history of boxing on screen, indulging in some of the cinematic tropes that have come to be associated with the sport. The opening sequence of the film sees Wepner on a Rocky-esque run, ending with him jogging up the stairs at the Stephen R. Gregg-Bayonne County Park in New Jersey. This where he actually used to train, and it’s believed by some that the famous scene in Rocky, along with the character himself, was directly inspired by Wepner. Sylvester Stallone would disagree.
While the heart of the film is Wepner’s fight with Ali, there’s another underdog battle brewing. With Rocky having gone on to make billions of dollars worldwide, Chuck Wepner feels he deserves a small piece of the pie in exchange for the use of elements of his life story. Stallone, however, claims that Rocky is NOT Wepner and seems to downplay the actual influence the famous fight with Ali actually had on the creation of the film. It’s strange considering the fact that he admits Apollo Creed was directly influenced by Muhammad Ali and admits to getting the idea for the character while in attendance at the infamous Ali/Wepner match. The film goes on to draw other similarities to Wepner’s story, including an exhibition match against Andre the Giant, which seemed to be directly lifted by Stallone in Rocky III in which the Italian Stallion fights Hulk Hogan. Coincidence? Not likely. Still, the controversy doesn’t affect my love of the franchise, but I do think it would be nice if Wepner didn’t have to result to a lawsuit in order to get the credit (and money) he deserves. I may have been rooting for Rocky in his on-screen match against Apollo Creed, but in the case of Chuck, i’m with Wepner all the way. — Jay C.
The Real Rocky will air October 25th at 9pm ET on ESPN/ESPN HD as a part of ESPN Films. Be sure to check it out!
Look,chuck was no Rocky Balboa, not by a long shot. True, he did one amazing thing with his life, his shot with Ali, but that was it. Many issues could be drawn to dozens of boxers that they all shared a connection to Rocky. Chuck led a very different life in and out of the ring from that of Rocky. Chuck, the real Rocky? Not by a thousand miles. Maybe a Rocky who never made it and never landed on his feet. I don’t want to be a hater, but praise chuck on his one moment of glory- sure. i get that. but to call him The Real Rocky….no way.
I grew up in Bayonne. I only met Chuck Wepner a few times. Before the Ali fight Chuck was considered of as a jerk. I don’t mean to demean the guy but he deserves it. He would walk into a bar grab some girls ass and say to her boyfriend “What are you going to do about it?” Not only was his nickname the “Bayonne Bleeder” it was also the “Bayonne Bully.”
The documentary paints a picture of a nice guy who was done wrong. Bull. Chuck was always a looser. While I do think Stallone should have paid him for the use of his name in promoting the movie I do not think he deserves a dime for what Stallone created. Should Mona Lise be paid because De Vinci painted such a captivating portrait. How many writers were inspired by the lives of ordinary people. It has been going on for centuries.
As the previous writer wrote this was one high lite moment in the life of an average boxer. Some residents of Bayonne, NJ are collecting funds to erect a statue of Wepner. For doing what? Because his name was picked out of a hat. Because Ali knew how to market himself? The only reason Wepner went 15 rounds is because Ali did not put much effort into knocking him out. If you compare the first nine rounds to the last six you can see the difference in Ali. If Ali did in the first six what he did in the last six Wepner would have only lasted six rounds.
One item the documentary leaves out is the fake autograph scheme that Chuck and others tried to pull off. Guess what. The looser got caught. Look it up.
I remember reading at the time Rocky came out that Stallone was first inspired by a fight I remember seeing on TV between Roberto Duran who was lightweight champion, and a guy named Lou Bizzaro (seriously), who was something like a TV salesman in Erie PA. Bizarro had no chance to win but just bounced around dancing and holding on, trying to go the 15 round distance. He got almost through 14. It was held in Erie, so everybody was pulling for Lou. He got knocked down twice in the 14th but got up and made it to the last seconds before getting knocked out.
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