The Real Rocky

The story

Chuck Wepner is a liquor salesman from Bayonne, N.J., who drives a Cadillac with “Champ” vanity plates. A former New Jersey State Heavyweight Boxing Champion, he took abuse from Sonny Liston, got his nose broken by Muhammad Ali, and inspired Sylvester Stallone to write “Rocky” which won three Academy Awards. Wepner was left out of the “Rocky” glory, and his career took turn after strange turn as he worked to stay in the spotlight: he went on to fight Andre the Giant as “The Assassin” and boxed a 900 pound bear. Twice.

Cast & crew

Chuck WepnerSelf

Sylvester StalloneSelf

Muhammad AliSelf (archive footage)

George ForemanSelf

Don KingSelf

Vince McMahonSelf

Sonny ListonSelf (archive footage)

Mike DouglasSelf (archive footage)

James BrownSelf (archive footage)

Hulk HoganSelf (archive footage)

André RoussimoffSelf (archive footage)

Howard CosellSelf (archive footage)