The Real Rocky
“Millions watched a movie. One man lived it.”
2011•55m•6.2•Released
Documentary
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.
Director
Jeff Feuerzeig
Languages
English
Studio
ESPN Films
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)
Irwin Winkler
Self
Jake LaMotta
Self (archive footage)
Jerry Izenberg
Self
Production
Company
ESPN Films
Company
ESPN
Producer
Matt McDonald
Producer
Andrew Billman
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