Chuck Wepner

Charles "Chuck" Wepner (born February 26, 1939) is an American former professional boxer who fought at heavyweight.^[1][2] As a world ranked contender he almost went fifteen rounds with world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 title fight. Wepner also scored notable wins over Randy Neumann and Ernie Terrell.

Early life

Charles Wepner was born February 26, 1939 in New York City, New York,^[3] the son of Dolores (Hrynko) and Charles William Wepner. He is of German, Ukrainian, and Belorussian descent.^[4]

Wepner learned to fight on the streets of Bayonne, New Jersey, saying, "This was a tough town with a lot of people from the docks and the naval base and you had to fight to survive". Wepner was about a year old when he moved in with his grandmother on 28th Street near Hudson Avenue (now Kennedy Boulevard). He was raised by his mother and grandparents, living in a room that was a converted coal shed until he was 13. He was always an avid player of sports in his youth, playing basketball for the Police Athletic League he was very young. With limited options for his future that included working as a longshoreman on the waterfront or joining the military, Wepner opted for the latter, joining the U.S. Marines, where he became a member of the boxing team, developing a reputation for being able to withstand other boxers' punches, and becoming a military champion at one of the airbases.^[5]

Career

Wepner turned professional in 1964 and became a popular fighter on the Northeast's Club Boxing circuit, fighting throughout the county, including arenas close to his boyhood home such as North Bergen and Secaucus.^[5] Nicknamed "The Bayonne Bleeder," he began posting many wins and some losses. He had formerly boxed while a member of the United States Marine Corps, and had worked as a bouncer before turning pro.^[6] He was the New Jersey State Heavyweight Boxing Champion and popular fighter in the Northeast's Club Boxing circuit. But after losing fights to George Foreman (by knockout in three) and Sonny Liston (by knockout in ten) many boxing fans thought that his days as a contender were numbered. After the fight with Liston, Wepner needed 72 stitches in his face.

However, after losing to Joe Bugner by a knockout in three in England, Wepner won nine of his next eleven fights, including victories over Charlie Polite and former WBA Heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell.

Muhammad Ali fight

In 1975, it was announced Wepner would challenge Muhammad Ali for the world's Heavyweight title.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (February 9, 1975, Page 4-C), Carl Lombardo put up $1.3 million for the Wepner-Ali heavyweight title bout. According to a Time magazine article, "In Stitches", Ali was guaranteed $1.5 million and Wepner signed for $100,000. This was considerably more than Wepner had ever earned and he therefore did not need any coaxing. Wepner spent eight weeks near the Catskill Mountains under the guidance of Al Braverman (trainer and noted cutman) and Bill Prezant (manager). Prezant prophesied that the fight would be a big surprise. This bout was the first time Wepner had been able to train full-time.^[7] The fight was held on March 24 at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio south of Cleveland. Before the fight, a reporter asked Wepner if he thought he could survive in the ring with the champion, to which Wepner allegedly answered, "I've been a survivor my whole life...if I survived the Marines, I can survive Ali."

In the ninth round Wepner scored a knockdown, although photos later supported Ali's claim that Wepner had simply tripped him by stepping on his foot. Wepner went to his corner and said to his manager, "Al, start the car. We're going to the bank. We are millionaires." To which Wepner's manager replied, "You better turn around. He's getting up and he looks pissed off."^[8]

In the remaining rounds, Ali decisively outboxed Wepner and opened up cuts above both Wepner's eyes and broke his nose. Wepner was far behind on the scorecards when Ali knocked him down with 19 seconds left in the 15th round. The referee counted to seven before calling a technical knockout.^[9]

Late career

In 1976, Wepner fought professional wrestler André the Giant and lost by countout after Andre threw him out of the ring.^[10][11]

Wepner's last fight was on May 2, 1978 for the New Jersey State Heavyweight Championship against a new rising prospect, Scott Frank, noted for a useful heavy left hook.^[12] Wepner lost the fight in a 12-round decision, but again proved durable, Ring magazine noted. He announced his retirement after the fight.^[13]

Later life

Wepner works today with his second wife Linda in the liquor store management field for Majestic Wines and Spirits in Carlstadt, New Jersey, and is an expert in consumer liquors, wines and spirits.^[14]

A film about Wepner's career was released in 2012,^[15] and ESPN aired a documentary titled The Real Rocky on October 25, 2011.^[16] The ESPN film features a clip of Wepner's ninth round knockdown of Muhammad Ali in their 1975 world heavyweight title bout.^[17]

Ring appearances

Wepner occasionally makes ringside appearances at boxing cards in his home state of New Jersey, signing autographs and posing for photos with boxing fans. On October 12, 2012, Wepner appeared ringside with former World Light Heavyweight champion Mike Rossman in Atlantic City, New Jersey at a Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City fight card featuring a WBA NABA Lightweight title bout in the main event. Wepner held the WBA NABA heavyweight title during his boxing career.

Rocky

Sylvester Stallone watched Wepner's fight against Ali and shortly afterwards wrote the script for Rocky, but Stallone subsequently denied that Wepner provided any inspiration for the movie.^[18][19] Wepner filed a lawsuit which was eventually settled with Stallone for an undisclosed amount.^[19]

It is speculated that the 1982 film Rocky III was influenced by his fight against Andre the Giant, as the movie features a match versus wrestler Hulk Hogan as "Thunderlips", who throws Rocky out of the ring.^[18][20]

In media and popular culture

• Liev Schreiber is playing the role of Wepner in a sports film, The Bleeder.^[21]
• Zach McGowan is playing the role of Wepner is another sports film, "American Brawler".^[22]

Professional boxing record

35 Wins (17 knockouts), 14 Losses, 2 Draws [23]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	35-14-2	Scott Frank	PTS	12	26/09/1978	Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, United States	Referee: Jersey Joe Walcott. Lost USA New Jersey State Heavyweight title.
Win	35-13-2	Tom Healy	KO	5 (?)	02/06/1978	Old Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Win	34-13-2	Johnny Blaine	KO	3 (?)	07/04/1978	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Loss	33-13-2	Horst Geisler	TKO	10 (10)	20/05/1977	Broome County Arena, Binghamton, New York, United States	Wepner down in the 10th round.
Loss	33-12-2	Mike Schutte	PTS	10	19/02/1977	Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Loss	33-11-2	Duane Bobick	TKO	6 (10)	02/10/1976	Utica College Sports Complex, Utica, New York, United States	Bout was stopped on cuts.
Win	33-10-2	Tommy Sheehan	TKO	2 (10)	06/05/1976	Kearny, New Jersey, United States
Win	32-10-2	Johnny Dolan	KO	3 (10)	19/11/1975	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Win	31-10-2	Johnny Evans	TKO	4 (10)	19/11/1975	Portland, Maine, United States
Loss	30-10-2	Muhammad Ali	TKO	15 (15)	24/03/1975	Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, United States	For WBC & WBA Heavyweight titles. Ali down in the 9th round after Wepner "knocked him down" by stepping on Ali's foot, Wepner almost went the distance and was TKOed with 19 sec. left in the 15th and final round. This fight was allegedly the inspiration for Rocky.
Win	30-9-2	Terry Hinke	TKO	11 (12)	03/09/1974	Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States	Promoter Dick Sadler billed this for the American Heavyweight title. Wepner was penalized 4 points for assorted fouls. Hinke ruled down 3 times in 11th.
Win	29-9-2	Charley Polite	KO	4 (?)	23/05/1974	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Win	28-9-2	Randy Neumann	TKO	6 (12)	08/03/1974	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States	Retained USA New Jersey State Heavyweight title. Neumann suffered a severe gash from a clash of heads.
Win	27-9-2	Billy Williams	PTS	10	17/01/1974	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Win	26-9-2	Ernie Terrell	PTS	12	23/06/1973	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Won vacant National Americas heavyweight title.
Win	25-9-2	Billy Marquart	PTS	12	15/03/1973	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States	Retained USA New Jersey State Heavyweight title.
Win	24-9-2	John Clohessy	PTS	10	07/12/1972	Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
Win	23-9-2	Randy Neumann	PTS	12	15/04/1972	Jersey City, New Jersey, United States	Won USA New Jersey State Heavyweight title.
Loss	22-9-2	Randy Neumann	PTS	12	09/12/1971	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States	Lost USA New Jersey State Heavyweight title.
Win	22-8-2	Mike Boswell	TKO	10 (10)	14/10/1971	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Win	21-8-2	Jesse Crown	KO	4 (?)	16/09/1971	Embassy Hall, North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Loss	20-8-2	Jerry Judge	TKO	5 (8)	06/01/1971	Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss	20-7-2	Joe Bugner	RTD	3 (10)	08/09/1970	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom	Cut eye stoppage.
Loss	20-6-2	Sonny Liston	RTD	9 (10)	29/06/1970	Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States	Wepner down by body blow in the 5th round. Fight stopped by ring doctor after round 9 because of multiple cuts on Wepner's face.
Win	20-5-2	Manuel Ramos	UD	10	26/01/1970	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	19-5-2	Pedro Agosto	PTS	10	19/12/1969	Felt Forum, New York, New York, United States
Loss	18-5-2	George Foreman	TKO	3 (10)	18/08/1969	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States	Wepner's eye opened up slightly in the 1st round, and was bad enough by the beginning of the 3rd to give Foreman a TKO.
Loss	18-4-2	Jose Roman	PTS	10	22/06/1969	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win	18-3-2	Mike Bruce	PTS	8	28/04/1969	Secaucus, New Jersey, United States
Win	17-3-2	Roberto Davila	MD	10	14/03/1969	Felt Forum, New York, New York, United States	Scoring: 5-4-1, 5-5, 6-4.
Win	16-3-2	Jerry Tomasetti	TKO	1 (10)	13/12/1968	Felt Forum, New York, New York, United States
Win	15-3-2	Mert Brownfield	PTS	10	09/11/1968	Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	14-3-2	Forest Ward	TKO	7 (8)	28/09/1968	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States	Ward was down three times in the 7th round, triggering an automatic stoppage.
Win	13-3-2	Mike Bruce	PTS	8	20/05/1968	Plaza Arena, Secaucus, New Jersey, United States
Win	12-3-2	Eddie Vick	SD	10	30/04/1968	Walpole, Massachusetts, United States
Win	11-3-2	Clay Thomas	TKO	3 (?)	22/01/1968	Secaucus, New Jersey, United States
Win	10-3-2	Charlie Harris	TKO	6 (?)	27/11/1967	Secaucus, New Jersey, United States
Loss	9-3-2	Jerry Tomasetti	TKO	5 (6)	19/07/1967	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	9-2-2	Don McAteer	TKO	5 (6)	28/04/1967	Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States	Won vacant USA New Jersey State heavyweight title. McAteer was a last minute sub.
Win	8-2-2	Dave Centi	PTS	6	21/10/1966	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	7-2-2	Johnny Deutsch	KO	6 (?)	03/08/1966	Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	6-2-2	Cleo Daniels	PTS	6	06/04/1966	Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, United States
Win	5-2-2	Jerry Tomasetti	PTS	6	22/02/1966	Sunnyside Gardens, Sunnyside, Queens, New York, United States
Loss	4-2-2	Buster Mathis	TKO	3 (6)	17/01/1966	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States	Wepner was knocked down in the 1st.
Loss	4-1-2	Bob Stallings	PTS	6	19/10/1965	Sunnyside Gardens, Sunnyside, Queens, New York, United States
Draw	4-0-2	Everett Copeland	PTS	6	23/03/1965	Sunnyside Gardens, Sunnyside, Queens, New York, United States
Win	4-0-1	Ray Patterson	SD	6	19/01/1965	Sunnyside Gardens, Sunnyside, Queens, New York, United States	Patterson was knocked down in the 2nd.
Win	3-0-1	Jerry Tomasetti	PTS	4	18/12/1964	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Draw	2-0-1	Everett Copeland	PTS	6	27/10/1964	Sunnyside Gardens, Sunnyside, Queens, New York, United States
Win	2–0	Rudy Pavesi	PTS	4	14/08/1964	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	1–0	George Cooper	KO	3 (?)	05/08/1964	City Stadium, Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chuck Wepner.

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Chuck Wepner

• Professional boxing record for Chuck Wepner from BoxRec
• Interview with Chuck Wepner
• Chuck Wepner at the Internet Movie Database