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I’m the real life Rocky… I was part-time fighter who knocked down Muhammad Ali – then my life fell apart

BEFORE hitting the big time with Rocky, Sylvester Stallone was so hard-up he slept in a bus station, sold his beloved dog and starred in a porn movie for £150. Tired of getting nowhere, the Italian-American actor had begun to…

By Grant Rollings · The Sun UK

Published: Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 9:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Chuck Wepner recalled how knocking down Muhammad Ali in 1975 inspired Sylvester Stallone to create Rocky.
Wepner entered the March 1975 heavyweight title bout as a 40-to-one underdog before losing in the 15th round.
Stallone wrote the screenplay in three and a half days after watching Wepner's performance against Ali.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner has reflected on how his 1975 fight against Muhammad Ali directly inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the movie Rocky. Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the classic film, Wepner recalled knocking down Ali in the ninth round before suffering a 15th-round technical knockout defeat.

Wepner discussed his early hardships, working as a bouncer, and training part-time prior to fighting for the heavyweight title. He also addressed later legal action he took against Stallone in 2003 regarding franchise earnings, which was settled out of court, while affirming the two remain on good terms.

Read the full article on The Sun UK

I’m the real life Rocky… I was part-time fighter who knocked down Muhammad Ali – then my life fell apart

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