The true story behind how Sylvester Stallone became a superstar

Becoming Rocky

In 1975, Stallone was a down-but-not-yet out actor and screenwriter, but all that changed when, on the night of March 24, he went to the Los Angeles theater to watch a closed-circuit broadcast of the world’s greatest boxer, Muhammed Ali, beating up a boxer called Chuck Wepner.

Chuck versus Ali Pulse Live Uganda

However, things didn’t go to plan for Ali as he danced around Wepner in the ring, playing with his opponent. Chuck Wepner was a man who nobody knew, but everyone knew Ali and so the crowd cheered for the Ali, the champion.

Chuck knocks down Ali Pulse Live Uganda

Then, suddenly, Wepner threw a right-hand punch to Ali’s ribs as Ali danced and suddenly lost his footing.

Caught off-balance, Ali collapsed to the floor and the crowd couldn’t believe it. A nobody had knocked down the champion of the world!

Chuck Wepner and Rocky Balboa Pulse Live Uganda

"It was like a bolt of lightning from some Greek god in the sky, and, almost instantly, Wepner became the crowd favorite," Stallone said.

Rocky 3 Pulse Live Uganda

"Suddenly, he went from being a complete joke to being somebody whom everybody watching could identify with — because everybody's thinking, 'Yes, I'd like to do that! I'd like to do the impossible, even if only for a moment, and be recognized for it — and have the crowd cheer.'"

Rocky with Apollo Creed, the latter character portrayed Ali in the Rocky movies Pulse Live Uganda

After Stallone watched this fight in open mouthed shock, he quickly picked up a pen and wrote the screenplay for Rocky, the movie.

Chuck Changed the game

The first Rocky movie changed Stallone’s life as the movie won a Best Picture Academy Award and catapulted Stallone from zero to hero as he went on to get fame and fortune in Hollywood and also make The Expendables.

Liev Schreiber played the role of Wepner in a sports film, Chuck Pulse Live Uganda

By the way, Wepner did not win that fight against Ali as the Champ got up and took down his opponent in 15 rounds of boxing.

Ali won the fight. However, Wepner was the true winner as he did the unthinkable by knocking down the champ. Plus, he inspired the Rocky movies that we all have come to love.

Zach McGowan played the role of Wepner in another sports film, The Brawler. Pulse Live Uganda

Not only those movies, but Liev Schreiber played the role of Wepner in a sports film, Chuck. Also Zach McGowan played the role of Wepner in another sports film, The Brawler.

So, in future, if anyone asks you which who is the toughest Chuck you know, don’t say Chuck Norris. Say Chuck Wepner.

The true story behind how Sylvester Stallone became a superstar

More from category

Museveni hypes up Nakivubo Stadium epic revamp by young tycoon Ham

Lionel Messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for Inter Miami

Bayer Leverkusen on the verge of historic Bundesliga title

Recommended articles

Museveni hypes up Nakivubo Stadium epic revamp by young tycoon Ham