25 Facts About Chuck Wepner

Charles Wepner was born on February 26,1939 and is an American former professional boxer.

Chuck Wepner fell just nineteen seconds short of a full fifteen rounds against world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 championship fight.

Chuck Wepner scored notable wins over Randy Neumann and former world heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell.

Chuck Wepner was the last man to fight former undisputed world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston.

Chuck Wepner was the subject of the 2019 film The Brawler.

Charles Chuck Wepner was born on February 26,1939, in New York City.

Chuck 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".

Chuck Wepner was about a year old when he moved in with his grandmother on 28th Street near Hudson Boulevard.

Chuck Wepner was raised by his mother and grandparents, living in a room that was a converted coal shed until he was 13.

Chuck Wepner was an avid player of sports in his youth, playing basketball for the Police Athletic League.

At the age of 15, Chuck Wepner decided he would join the US Marines, inspired by the movie Battle Cry.

Chuck Wepner turned professional in 1964 and became a popular boxer on the Northeast's Club Boxing circuit, where he began posting many wins and some losses fighting throughout the region, including in arenas close to his boyhood home such as North Bergen and Secaucus.

Chuck Wepner had formerly boxed while a member of the United States Marine Corps, and had worked as a bouncer before turning pro.

Chuck Wepner was the New Jersey state heavyweight boxing champion, but after losing bouts to George Foreman and Sonny Liston many boxing fans thought that his days as a contender were numbered.

However, after losing to Joe Bugner by a cut eye stoppage in three in England, Chuck Wepner won nine of his next eleven bouts, including victories over Charlie Polite and former WBA heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell.

Chuck Wepner was far behind on the scorecards when Ali knocked him down with 19 seconds left in the 15th round.

For years after Rocky was released, Stallone denied that Chuck Wepner provided inspiration for the movie, though he eventually admitted it.

In 1976, Chuck Wepner fought professional wrestler Andre the Giant and lost by countout after Andre threw him out of the ring.

On October 25,1977, Chuck Wepner went to Japan and lost to Antonio Inoki in a Wrestler vs Boxer match.

Chuck Wepner lost the match in a 12-round decision, but again proved durable.

In November 1985, Chuck Wepner was arrested on drug charges when he was found with four ounces of cocaine in an undercover police investigation.

Chuck Wepner served 17 months in Northern State Prison, Newark, New Jersey, then spent another 20 months in New Jersey's intensive supervision program.

In 2003, Chuck Wepner sued Sylvester Stallone, seeking payment for his use as the inspiration for Rocky and the film series.

Chuck Wepner occasionally makes ringside appearances at boxing cards in his home state of New Jersey, signing autographs and posing for photos with boxing fans.

Chuck Wepner held the WBA NABA heavyweight title during his boxing career.