Way
back on October 12, 2003, StalloneZone
reported that Chuck Wepner
was planning to sue Sly for "using his name." Today
the following appeared from the Associated Press:
Boxer
Suing Stallone for 'Rocky' Films
Fri Nov 7, 6:43 PM ET
NEW YORK - The boxer who was the inspiration for Sylvester
Stallone's "Rocky" films plans to file
a lawsuit against the actor for illegally using his name to
promote the films and other merchandise, attorneys said Friday.
Chuck Wepner, 65, is seeking $15 million
in damages from the right of publicity claim, said his attorney
Anthony Mango. The suit will be filed next week in New
Jersey State Court.
"Stallone is keenly aware
that having a movie based on true story adds an appeal and he
capitalizes on that, but has never given Chuck anything
back," Mango said.
Wepner fought Muhammad Ali in
March 1975 and went 15 rounds before he was knocked out. Stallone
was at the bout and went on to write the screenplay for "Rocky."
"That night I went home and I had the
beginning of my character. I had him now. I was going to make
a creation called Rocky Balboa, a man from the streets,
a walking cliche of sorts, the all-American tragedy,
a man who didn't have much mentality but had incredible emotion
and patriotism and spirituality and good nature even though
nature had not been good to him," according to the actor's
Web site.
Stallone's attorneys had no comment
on the potential lawsuit.
The 1976 film won Academy Awards for
best picture, film editing and directing.
Mango said Wepner waited almost
28 years before filing the suit because he always expected Stallone
to compensate him.
"Stallone said there was going
to be something in this for Chuck. But he was giving
him shallow promises to placate him. Chuck took him as
a man of his word, but then finally realized it was never going
to happen," Mango said.
Theater, DVD and video sales from the
five "Rocky" movies total about $1 billion,
Mango said.
