Chuck Wepner: Why the Real Rocky Should Be Thanking Sylvester Stallone Today

ESPN just released a documentary as part of its 30 for 30 series entitled The Real Rocky centered around Chuck Wepner's life and his memorable fight against Muhammad Ali in 1975.

Not only that, a movie about Wepner is set to come out in 2012 entitled The Bleeder, starring Leiv Schreiber.

You add that to the popular Rocky series based on the former heavyweight boxer and Wepner should be thanking Sylvester Stallone right now.

Stallone, who acted in and wrote Rocky, was accused by Wepner of using his fight against Ali as inspiration but not appropriately paying Wepner for the rights. The case went to court and it was settled for undisclosed terms in 2006.

However, judging by Wepner's words in The Real Rocky, which aired on Tuesday night, Wepner still appears to hold a grudge against Stallone.

Let's set the money aside for a second. Even the money that Wepner is set to make with The Bleeder. Tell me that Stallone's Rocky films didn't add to Wepner's legacy.

Boxers, like most athletes, only live on after they retire if they leave a formidable legacy, which is not only built by their performance, but their aura, as well. Tell me that Wepner's aura didn't significantly increase after Stallone started the Rocky films and word came out that Wepner was his inspiration.

As a boxer, Wepner was undoubtedly tough, he was a journeyman, but it wasn't as though he was a world champion. He had a respectable record of 35-14-2, but he never was able to beat the best such as George Foreman and Sonny Liston. He became popular after the Ali fight because he boxed his heart out, not because he won.

If it wasn't for the Rocky films, Wepner would largely be forgotten to this day. Sure, those who watched him fight will still remember him to an extent, but he wasn't the type of fighter whose legacy would have lived on if it wasn't for Stallone.

I can understand why Wepner sued Stallone, I can understand why he may be bitter to this day, but what he needs to understand is that Stallone gave him something most boxers only dream of: the ability live on throughout boxing's history. That is something that is very rare and very difficult to achieve.

Wepner has the right to feel slighted by Stallone if he didn't receive proper compensation. However, he also needs to understand he wouldn't be where he is today without Stallone's help.