: In the ninth round, Wepner did the unthinkable—he knocked Muhammad Ali to the canvas. It was only the fourth time in Ali's career he had been knocked down.
: Stallone went home and reportedly wrote the script for Rocky in just three days, capturing the spirit of a man who didn't necessarily win, but "went the distance". Life After the Ring The Real Rocky
: Stallone borrowed the name, the iconic crouched fighting style, and the relentless durability of the only undefeated heavyweight champion. : In the ninth round, Wepner did the
: Wepner lasted until the final 19 seconds of the 15th round before the referee stopped the fight. Life After the Ring : Stallone borrowed the
The Bayonne Bleeder: The Real-Life Story Behind Rocky While the world knows Rocky Balboa as the ultimate cinematic underdog, the "Italian Stallion" was born from a real-life heavyweight battle in 1975. Sylvester Stallone , then a struggling actor, was in the audience when a local club fighter named stepped into the ring against the legendary Muhammad Ali. The Man Who Wouldn’t Stay Down
Today, Wepner is finally getting his due beyond the shadow of the silver screen. His life story has been documented in the ESPN documentary " The Real Rocky " and the 2017 biopic Chuck , starring Liev Schreiber.