If you ask the average person who is “Rocky”, the answer is a simple regurgitation of the film starring Sylvester Stallone. The story of man that became legend from his work ethic and want for success in the sport of boxing. ESPN Films director Jeff Feuerzeig reverts the image of rocky on the big screen, to what he calls ” The Real Rocky.” The documentary follows the life of Chuck Wepner, a heavy weight boxer from Bayonne, New Jersey. The “Bayonne Bleeder” as he is called is the definition of a tough journeyman in the boxing world. His nickname a result of the many laceratons he recieved throughout his boxing career. His calling card a 15 round fight with the great Muhammad Ali, knocking him down in the ninth round. Wepners determination and strength in the ring help him resonate with fans around the world
This documentary is the true underdog story, its the life of an old shool boxer at a time when boxing was a sport that ruled supreme. It dives into the controversy of the Rocky film and whether it was a creation of Wepner life. Stallone insists the movie was not made after the life of Wepner. Although it has been said many of the character resemble great fighters such as Apollo Creed is supposed to be Ali. In the movie Creed beats Rocky in the fight drawing close comparison’s to the famous Wepner Rocky fight. Its an amazing story of a former Marine who sold liquor by day, to a ranked heavy weight boxer.
“The Real Rocky” is a true feel good sports story. It provides insight into the life of a man and the actions he performed in the ring. The documentary does a nice job of depicting Wepner’s life, while showing New Jersey landmarks such as the Jersey City Armory and Ringside Tavern. The layout is well done as it shows equal treatment to all angles of the story. I enjoyed the parts of the documentary that showed the newspaper writers in a bar discussing the great fights of Wepner. Although it would have been even better if they had some more great boxers give there take on the story. While the newspaper writers have a unique angle, a former boxer understand what Wepner went through.
This story does a wonderful job of contrasting two of the biggest moments in Wepner’s life. This movie is both a political and a literal fight depicting great memories of Wepner’s fight with Rocky and the bad ones of his court battle with Stallone. Without this even contrast this documentary would lose its compelling nature. It shows us sports fans that battles within the ring or court sometimes go beyond what we see on television. Wepner does eventually settle out of court with Stallone, providing a happy ending to a sports story that stole the heart of millions.