Wepner suing over "Rocky"

[Guest Boo_Bradley]

http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1112/1660168.html

 

 

 

'Bayonne Bleeder' wants piece of profits

 

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Associated Press

 

 

NEWARK, N.J. -- Yo, Sly: Pay up!

 

Former heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner unleashed a legal roundhouse Wednesday against actor Sylvester Stallone, claiming the "Rocky" movie series was based on Wepner's own career. Now he wants a piece of the purse.

 

Wepner, who went nearly 15 punishing rounds in a 1975 loss to Muhammad Ali, claims in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state Superior Court in Jersey City that Stallone repeatedly credits that fight as the inspiration for the film that won the 1976 Academy Award for best picture.

 

But when it came time for sharing the riches that followed, Wepner claims, Stallone treated him like just another bum from the neighborhood.

 

"Stallone has been using Chuck's name -- and continues to this day -- in promoting the "Rocky" franchise without any permission or compensation," said Wepner's attorney, Anthony Mango. "They're doing that to add an element of authenticity to the sale of these products."

 

Mango estimates the five "Rocky" films and associated products have brought in over $1 billion. Wepner is entitled to part of that, he added.

 

"It's one thing to base a movie on someone, which you can do," Mango said. "It's another to continually harp on the name for selling and promoting without any permission or compensation, which you can't do."

 

Stallone's publicist, Michelle Vega, declined comment on the suit.

 

"Rocky" was the story of a down-and-out club fighter from Philadelphia who got a longshot chance at boxing's heavyweight title when reigning champ Apollo Creed was looking for a patsy for his Bicentennial fight. Stallone played Rocky Balboa, who worked at a meat-cutting plant and nearly dethroned the champ.

 

Wepner was a New Jersey club fighter who ran up a string of victories and eventually caught the eye of boxing promoter Don King. Wepner was nicknamed "The Bayonne Bleeder" for the punishment he was prone to receive even while winning.

 

After Wepner knocked out Terry Henke in the 11th round of a 1974 fight in Salt Lake City, Utah, King offered him a title shot against George Foreman, who was the reigning heavyweight champ. But when Ali defeated Foreman, Wepner got the match with Ali.

 

On March 24, 1975, the two fought in Richfield, Ohio, and Wepner knocked Ali down in the ninth round. Ali eventually scored a 15th-round technical knockout of Wepner with 19 seconds remaining in the fight.

 

The lawsuit claims Stallone made several promises to Wepner that he would be financially compensated over the years, but no payments were made, Mango said.

 

Wepner now lives in Bayonne, and works as a liquor salesman.

[lomasmoney 0]

so basically if i make a movie inspired by bret vs owen at wrestlemania x i would owe the hitman a percentage of the earnings

[the pinjockey 0]

"It's one thing to base a movie on someone, which you can do," Mango said. "It's another to continually harp on the name for selling and promoting without any permission or compensation, which you can't do."

 

Yes, because lord knows that the name of Chuck Wepner was a big part of the promotion of the film.

 

I do think it sucks, a bit, that Stallone won't throw him a bone. But really, just being the inspiration for an idea, I doubt is anything legally binding. It isn't like Radio, where the movie is about the person.

[Mole 0]

If anything, they'll settle for $100,000.

[Guest subliminal_animal]

This "Chuck Wepner" crybaby sounds like a real crybay. Look at that name ... "Chuck Weepner." That's a baby's name, and not the kind that eats or the kind that pees or the kind that cries because it's like razors when it pees—it's the kind that just cries for stupid stuff.

 

You know the kind of stuff. Like crying 'cause he got beat up in one of the Rocky movies because he stole Rocky's script or something. I don't know, I didn't read the article. But whatever my understanding of the situation, I think all us sensible folks can agree that that's a lot less important than a pee that is being bumblebees.

[Guest subliminal_animal]

And this Anthony Mango sounds like a fruit.

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Yup, it took me four minutes to come up with that.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Maybe Wepner was wating to see if this "Rocky" movie would make any money first...

[Youth N Asia 0]

This guy's only claim to fame was going toe to toe with Ali...and no matter what he says, he never knocked Ali down. He stepped on his foot and knocked him back. (cheap move)

[WrestlingDeacon 0]

I think one of SA's bumblebees got buzzing in Wepner's ear and convinced him to do this. There's no way Wepner thinks to sue Sly on his own, especially 15 years after the fact. So, if Wepner wins, can the person who "inspired" him to file the lawsuit now have a case to sue Wepner? It boggles the mind.

 

And I've seen clips of the fight. The only thing Wepner had going for him was a head made of concrete. Ali was never a power puncher and it was only after Wepner pissed him off with the supposed knock down in round nine that Ali got pissed off and really started taking it to him.

[1234-5678 0]

If Rocky was actually promoted as "The Story Of Chuck Wepner" it would have disappeared two weeks after it's release.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I think one of SA's bumblebees got buzzing in Wepner's ear and convinced him to do this. There's no way Wepner thinks to sue Sly on his own, especially 15 years after the fact.

 

It has been a lot longer than 15 years. Rocky came out in 1976.

[PsychoDriver 0]

I think Stallone should give the guy something. Why? because it's the right thing to do. What is a few thousand or so to him? one less ivory backscratcher?

 

But I don't think Chuck can win the case though.

 

Stallone should just settle. It'll shut the guy up and make Sly look like a good guy in the process.

[WrestlingDeacon 0]

I think one of SA's bumblebees got buzzing in Wepner's ear and convinced him to do this. There's no way Wepner thinks to sue Sly on his own, especially 15 years after the fact.

 

It has been a lot longer than 15 years. Rocky came out in 1976.

Yeah, but Rocky V came out in 1990. He's suing for the whole series, not just the one film. Actually, come to think of it, Sly keeps saying he's making Rocky VI, so that's makes it a bit fresher.

[Guest Boo_Bradley]

This "Chuck Wepner" crybaby sounds like a real crybay. Look at that name ... "Chuck Weepner." That's a baby's name, and not the kind that eats or the kind that pees or the kind that cries because it's like razors when it pees—it's the kind that just cries for stupid stuff.

 

You know the kind of stuff. Like crying 'cause he got beat up in one of the Rocky movies because he stole Rocky's script or something. I don't know, I didn't read the article. But whatever my understanding of the situation, I think all us sensible folks can agree that that's a lot less important than a pee that is being bumblebees.

thank you for adding nothing to the discussion