Chuck Wepner , nicknamed due to his tendency to cut easily, was never expected to win. A 40-to-1 underdog, Wepner had spent his career taking punishment and simply outlasting his opponents.
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 The Real Rocky
: Stallone actually tried to cast Wepner in Rocky II as a sparring partner, but Wepner famously blew the audition after a two-day partying bender. Chuck Wepner , nicknamed due to his tendency
: Wepner later sued Stallone for using his life story to promote the franchise without compensation. They eventually reached a private out-of-court settlement in 2006. Sylvester Stallone , then a struggling actor, was
: 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