Was Rocky Balboa a real person?

Question

I know Sly Stallone was in 5 Rocky movies with a new one coming out... but was it based on a real person?

Answer 1

I am in agreement with regard to the character "Rocky Balboa" being modeled after Chuck Wepner. And I copied a tid bit from Wikipedia (pasted below) that also says Wepner's fight with Ali was Stallone's inspiration to put the "Rocky" ball rolling.

The one characteristic "Rocky" had that is a dead give away that he was based on Wepner was the unbelievable ease at which he'd get cut. Then once cut would bleed like a scene out of a "Monty Python" movie. Wepner was nick named "The Bayonne Bleeder".

quoted; "Chuck Wepner was a fringe Heavyweight contender of the 1970s, who was known for his toughness, as well as his susceptibility to cuts, which earned him the nickname of the "Bayonne Bleeder." Wepner's heroic, albeit, lopsided defeat against Muhammad Ali, in which he knocked Ali down, while stepping on his foot, in a 1975 World title match, served as an inspiration for the Academy Award winning movie Rocky."

Even Sly says Wepner was the fighter from which he was able to create "Rocky". Someone mentioned earlier, its in his book.

Answer 2

The Real Rocky Balboa

Answer 3

Actually the Rocky Balboa character was based off this tough everyday guy who went 15 rounds with Muhammed Ali.

Answer 4

Actually i agree that the movie was about wepner. however, there was actually a boxer by the name of rocky balboa. I worked in a family owned italian restaurant for years and the owner had all sorts of italian memorabilia from years past. One such thing printed sometime in the 50`s had a bunch of italian boxers and their stats. One if which was rocky balboa. :)

Answer 5

EVERYBODY HERE IS WRONG!!! Here is your FIRST correct answer.
Rocky Balboa (I) (Miscellaneous Crew, The Pagemaster (1994))
I am shocked nobody got that answer right. Apparently we are amongst pseudo Rocky fans. Anyone who looked Rocky Balboa up in the last year or more should know this. And yes, Balboa was shaped after Wepner, but also Marciano, many great fighters, and Stallone himself. Shame on all of you for not knowing this... however Rocky's actual name is Robert. I suppose "Rocky" sounds tougher than Bobby Balboa, but Bobby Balboa sure is fun to say.

Answer 6

sorry fdghfdghf your wrong mate.marciano and balboa had the same 1st names and were both sluggers and both italian,so i see why you would think this.but balboa was a fictional character inspired by chuck wepner in his fight with ali.wepner actually and unsuccessfully tryd to sue stallone.stallone saw wepners fight with ali and wrote the script in something like two days.lots of studios tried to buy the script from stallone,but he refused to sell unless he him self was cast in the part of rocky balboa.he sold the script to mgm studios with him in the starring role written into the contract.the film was made and stallone was shot to global super stardom overnight. but what a great film.

Answer 7

YES!Rocky Balboa Was a real person

Answer 8

Yeah i heard this before too , although I never heard anyone but Wepner or his Attorney make that claim. Until now, read the 2nd article. Some of it it's just weird
"''If macho means I like to look good and feel strong and shoot guns in the woods, yes, I'm macho,'' he replied, smiling. ''I don't think that even women's lib wants all men to become limp-wristed librarians. I don't know what is happening to men these days. There's a trend toward a sleek, subdued sophistication and a lack of participation in sports. In discos, men and women look almost alike, and if you were a little bleary-eyed, you'd get them mixed up. I think it's wrong, and I think women are unhappy about it. There doesn't seem to be enough real men to go around.'' "

Answer 9

Immediately after the first movie came out, Stallone said he'd based the script on Wepner and Joe Frazier specifically, while he took the name from Rocky GRAZIANO, not Marciano. He was a fan of Paul Newman.

Answer 10

no he was bassed on a real fighter who has been mentioned before chuck wepner. by the way rocky balboa coming out in december looks great. hgere we go rocky!!!!!!!!