ESPN Films the Real Rocky: Why Chuck Wepner Needs His Own Feature Film

Do you know who the real Rocky is?

For the first time ever, ESPN is giving sports fans a chance to see a snippet of how the true Rocky Balboa story unfolded in “The Real Rocky,” airing Tuesday on ESPN as part of its 30 for 30 documentary series.

The year was 1975 and Chuck Wepner was a 40-to-1 underdog to the mighty Muhammad Ali. Nobody in the world had given him a shot and they were correct, as he lost the fight.

Yet, Wepner was only one of four fighters to knock down Ali, and the fight was much closer than anticipated—lasting 15 rounds.

That night, a young Hollywood wannabe named Sylvester Stallone was in attendance and the idea for the legendary movie and subsequent sequels was born.

Why not make another movie based off the real Wepner?

Not only are the theatrics in the famous fight in play, but also the entire aftermath of it all is what can truly bring in an audience.

Wepner hasn’t received a dime from all of the billions of dollars the franchise has raked in, but another film entitled The Bleeder is going to be released about him starring Liev Schreiber.

A story of hard work without the payoff, the real Chuck Wepner film could be about the search for redemption. He has been in legal battles with Stallone for years and eventually was awarded a settlement, but not nearly as much as he is rightfully owed.

Wepner fell into drugs and the party lifestyle, another interesting angle to portray in the documentary, as are the details on his three wives. Obviously his underdog boxing status, the way it really went down, could be another big part of the film.

Yet, overall it was all about getting what was rightfully his. Stallone distanced himself further and further from Wepner as the years went on, almost like he knew how much credit he should have given to the man known as “the bleeder”.

Setting the story straight is all Wepner can do at this point, so why not let America know?

There are too many terrific elements to the real Rocky Balboa for Hollywood not to set the story straight.

Here is a plea to Hollywood producers everywhere…make this movie happen!