WHO IS THE REAL ROCKY?

BY ROBERTO GONZALES

 

Chuck Wepner fought Muhammad Ali 15 rounds and inspired a movie. He once battled the behemoth pro wrestler Andre the Giant. And now two decades later, Wepner plans to compete in the World Ultimate Challenge....This headline came from an article out of The Weekend Jersey Journal on Saturday, July 1st, 1995....You could read headlines like this all over New Jersey news about the "Dare' ain't no affirmative action for any boxer, unless he creates his own" - Chuck Wepner "This guy Wepner was and I think today as well is -- FEARLESS! I guess that says it all", Dr.Glenn Van Warrebey, author/boxing expert

When a young, impressionable and unknown Philadelphia resident -- Sylvester Stallone -- saw the Wepner/Ali fight he was instantly inspired to write the blockbuster movie screenplay, Rocky. It became one of the 20th Century's greatest box office hits. Like piston-fists of steal, Hollywood blasted out Rocky I, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky 5...knockout! Indeed the world-famous Rocky Balboa character was, in reality, based Chuck Wepner. Wepner (who's exciting, revealing and memorable life story is the subject of a inspiring biography) recently recalls in early January, 2000, "Sly (Stallone) called me about two weeks after the Ali fight and told me he was gonna make da' movie. When da' first Rocky movie was released I was happy. Years later, I met Stallone and upon meeting me he spontaneously cheered, 'Hay, Chuck thanks!'...I guess for da' inspiration." "His whole life was a million-to-one shot." - Mickey the trainer (Burgess Meredith), from Rocky I, the movie. However, for the once dubbed "Bayonne Bleeder" this historic fight seemed to have eclipsed an otherwise distinctive boxing career. Some of the other Heavyweight Champions of the World the Real Rocky fought were Sonny Liston and George Forman (In Foreman's fifth pro fight, Wepner knocked him down in the 2nd round, but the fight got stopped in the 5th round because of eye cuts incurred by the Real Rocky). He sparred with Joe Fraiser for over seventy (70) rounds, when "Smokin' Joe" was training for his title defense with Tony Alongi. Wepner also thrashed and won against Ernie Terrell, a former WBC heavyweight champion of the world.

                                                      

                                                       Photo:Left to right: Shihan Vincent Marchetti, 

Chuck "Rocky" Wepner & Kratios Vasilios Katsaitis

The Real Rocky has also won distinctive honors over the years. Besides being a former National Golden Gloves and N.A.B.A. heavyweight champion, Wepner has made exciting and entertaining lectures and talks to many of the major civic, police and political organizations and schools and universities. He has done countless national and international TV, radio, magazine and newspaper interviews, as well as "roasts" and motivational speaking engagements. Wepner is also an internationally-known expert on boxing and lively ringside boxing commentator.

Wepner tells real stories and gives hilarious anecdotes you wouldn't believe! He's got an infectious sense of humor, "The day of the Ali fight I bought my wife a powder-blue negligee and told her ' wear this tonight cause you'll be sleepin' with 'da heavyweight champion of the world.' That night after the bloody fight his wife humorously said, 'Do I go to his room, or will he be commin'' to mine now?!"

Today, still with the smell of sweat-leather in his nostrils, the big-hearted Champ -- with his raw East Jersey accent vividly recalls a riveting boxing bloodbath he had with former World Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston (who Ali finally beat to win the Crown), "At the end of the 9th round they (the referee, he was probably seeing double) asked how many fingers they had up? I couldn't see. I was completely blind! My manager tapped me on the back three times and I said 'three'. So the referee said 'O.K. I guess you can see. I'll let you go for the 10th round'. But all I could see was shadows."

After a few hard times, Wepner had a fundamental change of heart, a fundamental internal transformation.

Wepner kicked the bad habits, the unhealthy life and the sometimes bad associations. He was determined and FEARLESS AGAIN ! It was a monumental transition for him. In the end, he became a crusader for the irrepressible human spirit.

"Ya got'a' go 'da distance," he bellows out emotionally, with his own brand of sensitivity and strength. Powerful and very real images of Rocky emerge spontaneously and vividly.

We all have our weaknesses, our blind spots, intimidations, devastating hits taken; OUR PERSONAL CHALLENGERS. Wepner gives a extremely timely, valuable, educational and entertaining guide to how to go toe to toe with any foe. It doesn't matter if its growing up the hard way, sickness, addiction, emotional lows, aggressive/hostile people, never ending stop signs and debt, death -- or whatever challenger(s) a human being, or you may have to fight.

Recently speaking in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the inspirational challenger from Bayonne explains further, meaningfully, "If you want to go toe to toe with any foe, you got'a be fearless. That's what I did in the old days and its what's happening now. It doesn't matter if your personal challenger is a mugger, chronic illness, or a ruthless business competitor."

For the real Rocky, like so many of the great champions, what's critical is just how he tapped and harnessed the irrepressible human spirit and went the distance.