Muhammad Ali was one of those rare athletes who had the ability to shape history every time he stepped into the ring. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the boxing legend actually played a role in the launching of one of the most famous movie franchises ever.
Ali, who passed away Friday at the age of 74, was fresh off his triumph over George Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle” when New Jersey native Chuck Wepner challenged him for the world heavyweight title on March 24, 1975.
Few gave the underdog Wepner a shot against the mighty Ali, but Wepner shocked everyone by scoring a knockdown of the champ in the ninth round. It marked the only time Ali was knocked down as a defending champion.
Ali recovered from the blow and went on to win via technical knockout in the 15th round. But Wepner’s valiant effort caught the eye of a young actor named Sylvester Stallone, who happened to be watching the fight. The events moved Stallone to write a screenplay, with Wepner the inspiration for the main character, Rocky Balboa. In 1976, “Rocky” debuted in theaters, and the rest is history.
The 77-year-old Wepner still has fond memories of that fight, telling FOXSports.com it was the greatest day of his life. He also also had some poignant words for Ali.
“He’s not only a great fighter, but he’s a great man,” Wepner said, via FOXSports.com. “He’s the most famous man who ever lived, he was a great friend, and I love the guy.”
The Wepner-Ali fight is yet another example of how Ali’s larger-than-life persona impacted so many. Check out highlights from that fight below.
Thumbnail photo via Patrick Breen/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Network
