I watched the movie last week the life story of Chuck Wepner. Thought it was very quality movie with a solid lead performance. The movie focuses much more on Wepner's troubled life outside the ring than his fights in the ring. Good story telling, enjoyable movie. Glad Wepner receiving some recognition late in life. The Ali they used looked more Buster Mathis in the ring but can't have perfect casting all the time.
He fights the bear once in the movie but they show it twice the opening of the movie is against the bear and there's narration of how he came to this point then the story back tracks.
Good stuff. Chuck fought that bear twice, and in the first fight he caught him a biff on the nose and it went ****ing crazy. When he fought it the second time he claims it remembered him and went mental again.
That's great. They change it a little in the movie he's warned by ring announcer do not hit the bear on the nose. The main focus is on Wepner his wife and his future partner/wife. Basically how he gets caught up in the 70s social scene of partying and how rocky makes him a celebrity in NJ.
And the kd of Ali, which may or may not have been standing on Ali's foot which causes him to fall down. I've watched it several times and I can't tell.
Enjoyed the movie. You cannot tell watching the film of the fight if Wepner stepped on his foot. However their is a photo that clearly shows Wepner foot on Ali's as the knockdown is occurring.
One of the greatest boxing quotes/stories I have heard involved Wepner: "That night, before the title bout, I bought my wife a powder blue negligee, and I gave it to her," Wepner said. "I said, ‘Wear this to bed tonight, because tonight you’re going to be sleeping with the heavyweight champion of the world.’ Anyway, after the fight, I come back to the room, I walked in, and she’s sitting on the edge of the bed in the negligee. She says, ‘Am I going to Ali’s room, or is he coming to mine?’" I assume they included that in the movie. It would be remiss of them not to.
