I knocked down Muhammad Ali, fought a BEAR, went to jail for drug possession and inspired the Rocky films
HE knocked down Muhammad Ali, twice fought a bear and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
But the real-life inspiration for the Rocky movies also had some tough times.
Chuck Wepner, 83, broke his nose nine times in 16 years and was known as the Bayonne Bleeder because such messy injuries were his hallmark.
And for the man who joined the Marines aged 15, his incredible experiences make those of Sylvester Stallone‘s Rocky Balboa character seem like a week in a kindergarten.
Chuck told the BBC: “Where I grew up, there were always two or three gangs.
“And more or less you had to go up there and beat up the toughest guy to survive, which I did. I’d have a fight almost every week.”
Following three years in the Marines he had 52 pro fights, winning 36 and succumbing to all-time greats like Ali, Sonny Liston and George Foreman.
Liston gave him 71 of the 328 stitches he believes he’s had over the years – always with only ice to dull the pain.
Wepner says he always gave everything in the ring: “Jesus, absolutely. I would go in there ready to die.”
And with real Rocky undertones he added: “Matter of fact, after the Liston fight, I was in a semi-coma and I was in shock.
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“My doctor told my mother I was pretty banged up. I really thought about whether I wanted to continue.
“But then I thought, I gotta try, I gotta try again. I gotta give it one more shot.”
And it was such spirit, as a 10-1 outsider against Ali, that inspired one spectator to dash off to write the screenplay for Rocky, which became the most popular film of 1976.
Wepner became only the fourth person to floor the iconic Ali.
But, to the dismay of a crowd who had switched sides to roar him on, he was stopped 19 seconds from the end of the full 15 rounds.
Denying claims from Ali’s camp that their man had tripped when sent to the canvas in his ninth-round moment of fame, Wepner said: “Strike me dead, I dropped him.
“I hit him with that punch and you can hear it on the replay, He was off balance and I dropped him and he knew it.”
But he added: “I could see his eyes and I thought, I’ve really got him angry now! That’s when he started counter punching and swearing at me.”
Wepner went on to fight wrestling legend Andre “The Giant” Rene Roussimoff, against whom he was counted out in a staged fight.
Then came two bouts with Victor the performing bear.
Victor was so riled by continuous jabs to the head that he hurled Wepner across the ring.
But the American revealed a darker side began looming in his life as he turned to “solving problems”.
He said: “Let’s say I did a couple favours for friends of mine, you know.
“I used to go around and ask people politely [about the money they owed] and then maybe I have to smack them in the face or something.”
After retiring from boxing in 1979, Wepner admits he took cocaine – one reason he failed an audition for Rocky II.
And in 1986 he was jailed for 10 years for possessing drugs – only to be treated as a hero by inmates and paroled after three years.
He explained: “Give me a break. It was fine.
“Everywhere I went, the guys were singing: ‘Champ, Champ!’ and saying to me, ‘How are you doing, Chuck?'”
Wepner then won an undisclosed sum after suing for not being credited in the Rocky franchise.
And now he’s got a statue in his honour.
Not quite the equivalent of one of the three Oscars the first Rocky film won.
But it’s still worthy recognition for a man whose character helped sculpt one of the most famous sporting characters in cinema history.