You've seen the Rocky Balboa movies at one point or another. Maybe not all of them, but a part of one.
Whether it was Sylvester Stallone's maniacal "Adrian" cry. His epic beach workout montage with Apollo Creed. His Cold War-ending speech after defeating Ivan Drago.
Or any of the other classic Rocky moments; you all at least know who he is.
But do you know the inspiration for the iconic boxing character?
His name is Chuck Wepner. You may have heard of him, you may not.
Wepner was better known as the "Bayonne Brawler" or the "Bayonne Bleeder" back in his day.
He went 35-14-2 in his career and fought with some of the best the sports has ever known. Muhammad Ali. George Foreman. Sonny Liston.
He also went toe-to-toe with wrestling legend Andre the Giant as well as a 900-pound bear.
To say that Wepner isn't an intriguing character by himself is simply ridiculous.
But (and he was even once the New Jersey state heavyweight champion) his claim to fame is being known as the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's Academy award winning film, Rocky, in 1976.
ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, intends to tell his real story.
As part of the "30 for 30" series, Wepner's wild career will be told in a documentary titled "The Real Rocky."
The documentary is directed by Jeff Feuerzeig and goes into good detail about his legal battle with Stallone as well as the highs and lows of his career.
One of the more heavily anticipated sequences will be footage from the actual Ali fight, the same one that is said to have inspired the Rocky movie.
Wepner lasted almost all of 15 rounds with the world's most famous boxer before the ref ruled a TKO with 19 seconds remaining in the fight.
The "Bayonne Bleeder" did put Ali down (although Ali still maintains his foot was stepped on) in the 9th round of the fight. Wepner then took one heck of beating at the hands of Ali for the remaining five rounds before being stopped.
The tale is one of redemption.
Wepner, as the nickname "Bleeder" certainly indicates, took a beating throughout his professional career. However, he certainly doesn't get his due as one of the more intriguing characters during one of the best times boxing has ever known.
This documentary, and the eventual Hollywood film due out in 2012, will at least shed some light, not only on a fighter, but a man who deserves it.
The Hollywood film, starring Liev Schreiber, will be titled The Bleeder.
The 72-year-old hopes the films will give people a chance to remember him for him rather than just the inspiration for a fictional character.
He deserves that chance. And if his real story is any indication, he'll get his wish.
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