The man who served as the inspiration for the most revered boxing movie of all time has been immortalized with his own statue. Former brawler Chuck Wepner, who was sometimes referred to as the “Bayonne Bleeder,” was joined by boxing legends like Larry Holmes, Gerry Cooney, and Iran Barkley for the unveiling of the statue, per Deadline. Actor Liev Schreiber, who played Wepner in the biopic Chuck, was also in attendance. Because Wepner’s story directly inspired Rocky, the film’s iconic theme was also played at the unveiling.
The boxer who influenced Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky now has his own statue like the character he inspired. Read More