Chuck Wepner in today's heavyweight division

He gets beaten fairly easily by most of the top contenders today.

 

He is not particularly special. He'd be losing to guys outside the top 20.

 

Yeah...Wepner had one horrible fight with Ali where he got away with 80%+ rabbit punches and then got stopped. That's basically Wepner's legacy. For some, people like Stallone, this was inspirational. :blood The man's own nickname indicates how beatable he is. When your nickname is negative...I don't care what era it is, you're getting your ass beat most of the time against good fighters. Wepner was not on the level of the Bonavenas and Chuvalos of that era, who were a higher caliber of contender. He was damn tough though, and damn large. That's why he got anywhere. Dedicated and naturally big and tough. That's it, I think.

 

Only seen a couple of his fights against ALi and Liston. I think maybe he would be competive with some guys in the top 10 today.

One thing I once heard about him is he could have made a lot more money off the Rocky movies then he did. I think he accepted a one time payment of something like 10,000 dollars where instead he could have recieved royalties and made many millions by now.

 

:deal

You want to talk inspirational? http://www.monfestival.fr/?id=d65baff31c80defd60c00cf027401840

 

Wepner sucks, but so do today's guys outside of Wlad, Vitali, Chambers, Povetkin, Haye, Helenius, and Chagaev.

 

Even in todays less than impressive top 10.. Wepner doesnt make the cut. I dont even think hed be top 20.. His biggest win was a bad decision, and a win over journeyman Randy Neuman. He probably would have his hands full or be a good match with a Albert Sosnowski,or a Deriick rossy type.

 

He would obviously be a belt holder today, if not unify the title.

Jesus, he fought Sonny Liston, who was born in 1883. What more proof do you need?

 

:good

 

Wepner was a nice guy and a tough guy but he was easy to hit, bled very easily and had zero power. He was also very slow and boring but he was not a dog and he had balls and heart...he was slower of hand and foot than Tex Cobb but he bled more but was just as easy to hit

He would not be close to today's top 10 and I do not see him beating anyone unless he was in the ring with referee Randy Neumann

 

Wepner couldn't fight, he couldn't punch and he couldn't box.
He had a talent for getting punched in the face and bleeding everywhere.
The best thing you can say for him is he didn't quit. (Although maybe he should have). He was a punching bag with personality.

Wepner v Andre The Giant is worth checking out. On youtube I believe.

I bet there are dozens of Wepner stories. He was a character. Apparently his wife was funny too.
Here's a story that Chuck told about his wife.
Prior to Chuck's fight with Ali he bought his wife some real nice sexy lingerie and told her, "I want you to wear this, because tonight you'll be sleeping with the heavyweight champion of the world"
So, Wepner went off to fight Ali and his wife got all dolled up in her new lingerie.
After he's lost the fight he's sitting in the dressing room, his wife comes in and says : "So, how does it work ... Do I go to Ali's room or does he come to mine ?"

 

One's things for certain, he'll bleed a shitload.

 

Hep-B Chagaev doesn't suck? :huh

He's been quite awful since 2008.

Hep-B & SNV is what ruined that solider. :yep

 

Chagaev is "The White Tyson"