On March 24, 1975, Muhammad Ali was about to face Chuck Wepner, a big, big boxer from New Jersey. The crowd is expecting a rugged thumper; no one expects miracles from Wepner. In the other corner stands a man who has managed to sweep the floor with names like Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and many others. In his sports history, Ali managed to sweep the floor with absolutely everyone, including Sonny Liston, even managing to put an end to the athlete there.
When he faces off against Wepner, the crowd buys a ticket so they can remember another famous win. The only problem is that the script is about to flip. Wepner stoically endures each heavy blow. While Ali dances around him and lands heavy shots, Wepner doesn't even flinch. It takes 8 rounds before Chuck finds his exact punch and sends it full fury into Ali's ribs. The punch is so powerful that Ali ends up on the ground in the 9th round.
Among the crowd was Sylvester Stallone, one of the greatest action stars and a fan of pro wrestling, who would later share that this punch was like a powerful bolt from Zeus himself. Suddenly everyone changes their mood and starts cheering for Chuck. It turns out that while he's been taking the hits, his strategy has been working in his favor. Many just have the opportunity to witness the impossible. Sometimes, one needs just those moments to believe in miracles, and on this chilly evening, Chuck delivers just that to his audience - hoping that the script can flip even in the most critical moments. The actor will remember the evening and write the screenplay for Rocky, which would later win him an Academy Award for Best Picture. And while many will fawn over the work, very few know the boxer's true story.
Chuck Wepner was born in 1939 in New York City and was still an infant when his parents moved to New Jersey. His father Charlie was also a professional boxer.
When he enlisted in the Marine Corps, Chuck became hooked on boxing. He hopes that once he is discharged from the military, he will be able to continue his professional career. Because he needs money and is now a parent himself, he takes a job as a nightclub security guard, where what he learned in the infantry helps, especially in drunken brawls. He called himself "the unbeatable boxer" in pub brawls and quickly found his way to the Police Sports League, which he would win in 1964 with gold gloves for a rookie in the sport. In 1967, he also won the state boxing tournament, taking home the championship title.
While the power was noticeable, fans also discovered another interesting trait - Chuck could take a tremendous amount of punches, but he also made the fight extremely dramatic because he would often start bleeding like a slaughtered animal. In one boxing match with Sonny Liston, Wepner was hit so hard that he had to go to the hospital and get over 70 stitches to close his wounds. Because the bloody wounds often ended the fights, fans and the press nicknamed him "The Bleeder". And life is not so rosy; with no money and no sponsors, the athlete's boxing career can only exist at his own expense.
That's why Chuck took a job as a liquor salesman. Even though it takes a long time, he keeps training and fighting 8 round matches. He's also on a winning streak, proving to himself and others that he can bleed, but he can also win. When he faces off against Ernie Terrell, the crowd is pleasantly surprised. Former champion Ernie can't find the right formula for victory and takes heavy blows after every maneuver that make him realize his opponent is a bone nut. The ability to take a serious fight and still deliver surprises in the ring draws a serious crowd, and one very important man is in attendance - Don King.
The famous promoter offers another shot at George Foreman while he is still champion. Muhammad Ali manages to achieve incredible success in Kinshasa and with Chuck being the main challenger, the chances of success become very serious indeed. The excitement of this fight can be experienced today through online sports betting platforms, and if you want to get involved in the world of sports betting, be sure to find and read the most detailed BetMGM sportsbook review.
With the promise of winning $100,000 - back in the day that's a serious sum for any boxer. Chuck starts training hard for the fight. The only problem is that many expect the fart to be guaranteed. No one is backing the bleeding Chuck into a corner, no one believes there will be any surprises in this fight.
And of course, to some extent, everyone is right. The only detail is that the workout manages to get Wepner into his best shape. Accordingly, when he endures the ominous punishment and manages to fight back the crowd is in shock, Don King doesn't know what's going on, and meanwhile Ali has to stand up. Everyone has seen the champion get up from knockdowns and wake up, but this time something is different. Underestimating his opponent has cost him more than just points.
For the first time, Ali felt the punch send him to the ground the moment he got it. Of course, the tale doesn't end happily. With a little more technique and a cannonade of punches, Chuck is sent to the floor and can't get up in time. This loss, however, brings fame to Wepner and in the years that follow he faces Andre the Giant and, a little later, Victor the Bear. Shortly after the movie Rocky came out, Chuck played his last match and lost it. The final score of his career was 35-14-2. Fame also came along, especially after he had a small role in the second part of the movie based on his story.
In 1985, he was imprisoned after being busted for cocaine possession. He served 2 years of a prepared 10 years and then returned once again to the liquor store where he worked as a salesman. Sued Stallone for using his name without his permission. The two sides reached a settlement in 2006. He was also given the opportunity to star in a documentary called The Real Rocky in 2011. And shortly after that, he also got the opportunity to record his true story in the form of the film "Chuck".
It's also perhaps the most accurate film of the time, allowing the athlete to gain a bit of fame and remain a legend albeit losing a popular fight to Muhammad Ali. As a matter of fact, we can assume this is the boxer who takes a serious amount of punches and still delivers a surprise to the crowd. Sometimes a loss can turn a person's life around, and in a good way. More importantly, though, there's someone there to save it in the end. Wepner now lives relatively quietly and New York and still cherishes the memory of that beautiful encounter.
