The Real Rocky

Millions watched a movie. One man lived it.

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

Chuck Wepner

Self

Sylvester Stallone

Self

Muhammad Ali

Self (archive footage)

George Foreman

Self

Don King

Self

Vince McMahon

Self

Sonny Liston

Self (archive footage)

Mike Douglas

Self (archive footage)

James Brown

Self (archive footage)

Hulk Hogan

Self (archive footage)

André Roussimoff

Self (archive footage)

Howard Cosell

Self (archive footage)