The Real Rocky

55min

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.

Production Companies

ESPN Films

ESPN

Cast

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Self (archive footage)
Sonny Liston

Sonny Liston

Self (archive footage)
Mike Douglas

Mike Douglas

Self (archive footage)
James Brown

James Brown

Self (archive footage)
Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan

Self (archive footage)
André Roussimoff

André Roussimoff

Self (archive footage)
Howard Cosell

Howard Cosell

Self (archive footage)
Jake LaMotta

Jake LaMotta

Self (archive footage)

Release date

25th Oct 2011

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English