Chuck Wepner (born February 26, 1939) is a former heavyweight boxer, of Bayonne, New Jersey. Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left) versus Rafael Ortíz Boxing, also called Western Boxing, pugilism, prizefighting (when referring to professional boxing) or the sweet science (a common nickname among fans), is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with... Seal of Bayonne Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. ...

Early career

Wepner, nicknamed "The Bayonne Bleeder" debuted as a professional boxer in 1964, and began posting many wins and some losses. See also: 1963 in sports, other events of 1964, 1965 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Athletics March 6 – Tom OHara sets a new world record for the indoor mile run by completing it in 3 hours, 56. ...

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 over 120 sutures in his face. He also lost a fight to Jose King Roman by a decision in Puerto Rico. George Edward Foreman (b. ... Knockout (also referred to as a K.O. or knock), is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and others sports involving striking. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Jose King Roman (born approx. ...

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. Joe Bugner born (March 13, 1950 in SzÅ‘reg, Hungary) was a British and Australian heavyweight boxer. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Ernie Terrell, born April 4, 1939 is an American singer, music producer, and former WBA heavyweight boxing champion. ...

Muhmamad Ali fight

Then, in 1975, it was announced Wepner would challenge Muhammad Ali for the world's Heavyweight title. Wepner had previously been forced to work as a liquor salesman and security guard to make ends meet. Wepner had also been a United States Marine before his fight with Ali. This bout was the first time he had been able to train full time for a bout. Most fans took the fight as a joke, and Ali was heavily favoured to retain the belt in the fight, held on March 24 at Cleveland. Before the fight, a reporter asked Wepner if he thought he could survive (15 rounds) with the champion, to which Wepner allegedly answered See also: 1974 in sports, other events of 1975, 1976 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Athletics August 12, In Gothenburg, Sweden, New Zealander, John Walker set a new world record becoming the first man to break 3:50 for the mile when he clocked 3:49. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Security Guard or Security Officer is usually a privately-employed person who is paid (directly or through a security firm) to protect property and/or people. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces to global crises. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in leap years). ... Nickname: The Forest City Motto: Progress and Prosperity Location in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Ohio County Cuyahoga Founded 1796 Incorporated 1836 Mayor Frank G. Jackson (D) Area    - City 82. ...

I've been a survivor my whole life...if I survived the Marines, I can survive Ali.

Against all expectations, Wepner managed to knock down Ali when he reached his ribs with a right hand in the ninth round and sent the champion to the canvas. Many said Ali fell down only because he had been standing on Ali's foot. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ...

Wepner proudly told his manager,

Hey, I knocked him down.

The manager replied Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ...

but he looks really pissed off now...

Despite being dominated by Ali, who cut Wepner above both eyes, Wepner battled gamely on, finally losing by a TKO in the 15th. After the Ali fight, Wepner fought through 1978, but never got another title shot. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... See also: 1977 in sports, other events of 1978, 1979 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto racing USAC - A J Foyt won final season championship under USAC. CART, Championship Auto Racing Teams open wheel racing established in the United States. ...

Post-Ali fight career

Wepner used his newly found celebrity to venture in professional wrestling, and he went to Japan to participate in the undercard where he met wrestler Antonio Inoki. During the Inoki-Ali "boxer vs. wrestler" match on June 2, 1976, Wepner fought André the Giant on the undercard, losing in less than a minute. Professional wrestling is generally any form of performance art in which pro-wrestlers receive payment for participating. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... See also: 1975 in sports, other events of 1976, 1977 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: February 15David Pearson won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Cale Yarborough Indianapolis 500 - Johnny Rutherford USAC Racing - Gordon Johncock won the season championship Formula One Championship... André the Giant (June 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993) was a professional wrestler and actor, born André René Roussimoff in Grenoble, France. ...

Wepner kept boxing until 1978, when he lost to Scott Frank by a decision in twelve and then retired. See also: 1977 in sports, other events of 1978, 1979 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto racing USAC - A J Foyt won final season championship under USAC. CART, Championship Auto Racing Teams open wheel racing established in the United States. ... Scott Frank (born 1960) is an American screenwriter. ...

Legal problems

In 1986, he was arrested for cocaine possession and went to jail for three years. On July 4, 1986 Wepner was involved in a traffic dispute at the Bayonne Diner. During the 1990s, he was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, and he has led a relatively quiet life since, candid about his period of drug addiction and working as a motivational speaker. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... See also: 1985 in sports, other events of 1986, 1987 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Geoff Bodine won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Dale Earnhardt CART Racing - Bobby Rahal Indianapolis 500 - Bobby Rahal Formula One Championship - Alain Prost of France 24... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

In 2003, Wepner filed a lawsuit against Stallone for money supposedly owed to him for the Rocky movies. He has claimed that Stallone has used Wepner's name numerous times without permission when he talks about the inspiration for Rocky Balboa. Two of his other claims have already been thrown out by U.S. District Court judges. Sylvester Stallone and Wepner settled the latest out of court for an undisclosed amount [1]. See also: 2002 in sports, other events of 2003, 2004 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Michael Waltrip wins rain-shortened Daytona 500 Winston Cup Championship won by Matt Kenseth for Ford. ... Rocky (1976) is an American film written by and starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G. Avildsen. ... Rocky Balboa prior to his rematch with Apollo Creed. ...

Career totals

Wepner had a record of 31 wins (17 of which were knockouts), 14 losses, and 2 draws.

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Chuck Wepner

• Muhammad Ali vs Chuck Wepner Boxing Review

• Ask Yahoo! Is "Rocky" based on a true story?

• Chuck Wepner at the Internet Movie Database