The amazing life of Chuck Wepner, the man who inspired Rocky
HE inspired the Rocky movies, fought Muhammad Ali and took on a real-life bear in the ring twice. Now, Chuck Wepner is getting his moment in the spotlight.
HE IS the man who inspired the Rocky movies, fought Muhammad Ali and took on a real-life bear in the ring twice.
And now boxer Chuck Wepner is finally getting his moment in the spotlight thanks to a film about his life starring Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, aptly titled Chuck.
Speaking from his home in the US, the 78-year-old says he started his career in boxing by chance — after getting involved in street fighting in his native New Jersey.
He earned himself the nickname “The Bayonne Bleeder” for his ability to take a punch while getting into scuffles in his hometown: “It was a tough area — there were a lot of people there from the naval base and also who worked on the docks.
“I was never knocked down in 147 fights. I took some great punches but I used to get cut up a lot, because I had high cheekbones and eye bones. I’ve had 328 stitches over my eyes.”
He hit the boxing circuit professionally in 1964 — he was successful, and was New Jersey State Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
But after losing to George Foreman, then Sonny Liston — which left him needing 72 stitches in his face — many thought his boxing days were numbered.
But Chuck rallied, went on the win nine of his next eleven fights and in 1975 got the invitation of a lifetime — to face Muhammad Ali for the world Heavyweight title.
He recalls: “I was the underdog, not expected to go more than five rounds. Ali had just fought Foreman.
“It was in the ninth round I scored a knockdown with him.
“Ali’s manager was screaming at him: ‘You’re getting beaten by a white guy!’ I was always the white guy!
“It defined my career.”
The pair went 15 rounds before Ali won: “He was a great fighter. I loved the guy. My wife and I drove up to Kentucky for the funeral. I paid my respects to the greatest.”
It was this fight which inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky.
Chuck ended up taking legal action against the actor over the lack of recognition he received for inspiring the role of Rocky Balboa — but they put it behind them and settled for an undisclosed sum in 2006: “I settled with the guy and I love him I think he’s terrific.”
Chuck revealed a lot of the training which featured in Rocky was based on his real life regimen: “I used to have to run in the morning, work all day then go to the gym at night. You really can’t get in the kind of shape you want to doing that.
“They sent me up to camp for seven weeks before the Ali fight. We did push ups, everything you saw in the movie. The only thing I didn’t do was eat raw eggs.
“I don’t know where they got that one from but anyone who eats raw eggs is gonna have a dysentery problem that’s for sure.”
However the fighter’s real diet would turn many people’s stomachs — he ate raw meat patties to get his protein levels up: “Raw meat I love. Like a steak tartare. I used to put salt and pepper on it, and get sirloin and make it into a patty the size of a hamburger with salt and pepper on it.”
He still trains regularly and likes to stay in shape: “I go to the gym three or four days a week. For 40 minutes. I lift some weights, I try to keep myself looking decent and presentable.”
Chuck says there was no one better to play him in the film than Schreiber: “When I found Liev wanted to play the part, and Naomi was going to play my wife, it was a done deal.
“Naomi played it to the hilt she was absolutely amazing.”
“She came over with a great Brooklyn accent like Linda. Everyone did a great job. I was absolutely honoured to have those guys do it.”
As for choosing Liev Schreiber to play himself, Chuck turned down four other well known stars for the role: “I turned down four other actors, because I didn’t like them. They weren’t me.
“They couldn’t lift their arms they were so weak.
“You can’t have a guy playing a He-Man part when a guy’s not a He-Man. Liev was great, I love him.”
Chuck says one of his most memorable scenes from his movie was when he taught Liev how to fight a bear.
During the 1970s he took part in two fights at charity events with the then well known Victor the in New Jersey.
The boxer recalls: “I said to Liev, ‘Hook him under the left arm and spin him, and you hit him.’
“Liev looked at me and said, ‘Are you out of your mind? I’m not fighting that bear for real. I wouldn’t go within five feet of that thing. Get the hell outta here you’re nuts!’
“I actually fought the bear. One time it threw me outta the ring. It jumped on me because I was hitting him in the nose with a jab. My whole body was scratched up.
“The second time I fought the bear it picked me up and threw me out of the ring. My leg got caught on the rope and it was like a sling shot and I landed on a dinner table where people were sitting watching me fight the bear. The table smashed and there were broken glasses all over.”
The film also documents the boxer’s battle with his personal demons — at the height of his fame Chuck had issues with cocaine, gambling and drinking.
He pleaded guilty to drugs possession in 1987 and served two years of a 10 year sentence.
Chuck says it’s thanks to his wife of 27 years, Linda, he overcame his demons: “I had some problems, but I straightened them out and I’ve been clean for 30 years. I did the right thing and turned my life around.
“My wife, she’s great. She’s my angel.”
“My wife really saved my life because when I came home from prison I was no drugs, but still partying. But she helped me stop and between the two of us we have had a great life.”
Originally published as The amazing life of Chuck Wepner, the man who inspired Rocky