Chuck Wepner Turns 86 – The Man Who Inspired “Rocky”
Today marks the 86th birthday of Chuck Wepner, the boxer whose fight against Muhammad Ali inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky. Despite being a massive underdog (odds were over 40-to-1 against him), Wepner shocked the world by knocking Ali down in the ninth round. Turning to his manager, he joked, “Start the car, we’re millionaires!” to which his manager replied, “Better turn around—he’s up, and he looks pissed.”
Known for his durability, Wepner took brutal punishment, with over 300 stitches to his face throughout his career. After the knockdown, Ali went on a rampage, shutting Wepner’s eyes and leaving him drenched in blood. In the 15th round, when Wepner himself hit the canvas, the referee told him, “Chuck, I’m stopping the fight—you’re losing too much blood.” Wepner, ever the warrior, responded, “At least let me finish the round.” The ref tested him: “How many fingers am I holding up?” Wepner grinned, “How many guesses do I get?”
Post-boxing, Wepner struggled with alcohol and drugs, even serving time for possession. But he turned things around, opening a wine shop with his wife in the 2000s—a business they still run. And despite facing legends like Sonny Liston and George Foreman, Wepner once admitted the only person who ever truly scared him was his wife.
