Real Rocky - The

: In the ninth round, Wepner did the unthinkable—he knocked Muhammad Ali to the canvas. It was only the fourth time in Ali's career he had been knocked down.

: Stallone went home and reportedly wrote the script for Rocky in just three days, capturing the spirit of a man who didn't necessarily win, but "went the distance". Life After the Ring The Real Rocky

: Wepner lasted until the final 19 seconds of the 15th round before the referee stopped the fight. : In the ninth round, Wepner did the

: Stallone borrowed the name, the iconic crouched fighting style, and the relentless durability of the only undefeated heavyweight champion. Life After the Ring : Wepner lasted until

The Bayonne Bleeder: The Real-Life Story Behind Rocky While the world knows Rocky Balboa as the ultimate cinematic underdog, the "Italian Stallion" was born from a real-life heavyweight battle in 1975. Sylvester Stallone , then a struggling actor, was in the audience when a local club fighter named stepped into the ring against the legendary Muhammad Ali. The Man Who Wouldn’t Stay Down