The sports world always presents a star that is always praised by its fans. Popularity and soaring names sometimes make you complacent, which leads to a winding journey of life.
This is what was experienced by Chuck Wepner, the world heavyweight boxer, from Bayonne, New Jersey, United States. Chuck raced as a professional boxer in the 1970s, along with the world's top boxers at the time, such as Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Chuck Wepner's name became more famous when he got the chance to fight the world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in the ring, on March 24, 1975. The match, which was aired from Richfield Coliseum, Ohio to the rest of the world, made the Chuck Wepner awe high.
An amazing day for Chuck Wepner. This man did not win the match against Muhammad Ali. However, everything seems to care.
Chuck, who was completely unsupported and initially thought to be only three rounds at the longest, turned out to be able to survive for 15 rounds against Ali. The betting market that positions a 40: 1 advantage for Ali is wrong.
That was the first time a world number 8 boxer had been able to drop the number 1 number two boxer on the ring floor. World boxing champion Muhammad Ali fell in the 9th round. A very proud struggle.
The Bleeder is pinned as Chuck Wepner. This name was given because in every fist match, Chuck always managed to make his opponent hurt and bleed. The Bleeder from Bayonne.
The true story of Chuck Wepner's life was later raised to the big screen into a biography or biopic film entitled The Bleeder, in accordance with the nickname he carried. The film was released in the cinema network in Indonesia, since July 12, 2017. I was present at the movie screening the day before at Cinemaxx Plaza Semanggi, Granadha, Jakarta, along with fellow Comics (Kompasiana film fans community).
The Bleeder film presents a number of Hollywood movie stars. This film produced was framed by Phillip Falardeau.
The Real Rocky Balboa
The film begins with the Chuck Wepner household scene. This man has a happy family with his wife Phyllis Wepner (Elizabeth Moss) and his son Kimberly (Sadie Sink). His career as a boxer also shot up with family support.
Chuck's heart flowered when his manager and coach Al Braverman (Ron Perlman) said if Don King, the boxing promoter scheduled a fight against Muhammad Ali. At that time, the choice of white boxing opponents to win the heavyweight boxing world title, fell to Chuck Wepner. An opportunity that provides benefits even though there was a doubt.
In the ring, Chuck proved his ability. In the film show Chuck kept trying to fight. Stay afloat even though his face was injured and bleeding from Muhammad Ali (Pooch Hall) 's fist punch.
"I don't remember anymore, which I know must survive even though Ali continues to blow. Boom. Boom. Boom," said Chuck Wepner, in the film The Bleeder.
The surprise came when Ali was successfully punched down on a canvas. Ali, who was able to rise up emotionally and increasingly attacked Chuck in the next round. Round by round passed. Chuck persists despite being covered in blood. Finally in the 15th round, Chuck collapsed and the fight was stopped.
Despite not winning, Americans, especially Bayonne always call him the champion. No one bothered, when Ali could deny if the fall was in the ring because his shoes were stepped on by Chuck.
Whatever it was, Chuck Wepner's persistence and fighting power captivated and inspired Sylvester Stallone (Morgan Spector) to make a feature film titled Rocky in 1976.
Rocky's film has gained success everywhere as the best sports film. Many like it. Rocky film was present in the next six sequels.
Tempted by Many Women and Narcotics
Pride doubled for Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber). His fist world career shot, a film inspired by his boxing match was successful worldwide. In an interview on a television station at the time, said if his life was around wine, women, and music.
This statement increasingly breaks the relationship of his household. His wife was very angry because the longer Chuck Wepner was increasingly tempted by many women.
One day, after going home drunk, his wife asked Chuck to separate home. Chuck is increasingly involved with a number of women, parties and nightlife. Not only that, Chuck finally began to consume cocaine, which he felt increasingly made him more confident.
Years after that, Chuck Wepner was no longer a consuming person but had become a cocaine dealer. Until finally this world-class boxer was arrested by police selling cocaine. Chuck was thrown behind bars with a 5-year prison sentence.
His life was destroyed at that time. The nuclear family doesn't exist. After years of separation, his wife filed an official divorce. The relationship with his male siblings was not good either.
Linda (Naomi Watts), a woman who works in a bar, which has made her fall in love away from prison. Then what is the next story like? More fun if you watch it yourself!
Learn from Chuck Wepner's Life Story
The Journey of Life Chuck Wepner, as a world champion in boxing, who was worshiped and boasted, then crashed into prison for being a cocaine dealer, can be a lesson for those watching the Bleeder movie.
Chuck Wepner's first person storytelling model brought his audience into the boxer's life in the 1970s. Films are made with past settings.
Movie soundtracks presented, accompaniment music, film display, player clothes used, to reporters' cameras while covering Chuck Wepner were still very old. In movies, it is sometimes quite abusive words that seem to emphasize the rigors of life.
In the film The Bleeder, Chuck is also shown who likes the film The Requiem for a Heavyweight, which was made in 1962, which tells the boxer named Mountain Rivera.
In addition, it was revealed from Chuck, even though Rocky's film based on Chuck's life story, there was actually no money he earned from the success of the world film.
However, this film was quite evocative because even though his life had reached its lowest point and was knocked down by a fame, Chuck Wepner was actually a good father. Always try to be close to his child and make poems for his child.
The Bleeder movie is quite interesting to watch, especially for boxing sports lovers. This film is indeed not a boxing sports film but a real story of the life of a boxer. One thing is certain, movies teach how extraordinary Chuck Wepner is. There is no word of surrender in fighting and fighting, to complete all rounds that are contested.
Even though for that, Chuck must be willing to bleed and undergo 313 stitches from all the matches he passed. Throughout his career, Chuck Wepner who was born in Bayonne February 26, 1939 appeared in 51 matches with a record of 35 wins (17 knockouts), losing 14 times, 2 draws.
The Bleeder film won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival in 2016. Chuck Wepner and his wife Linda still live in New Jersey.
Until now, the words of boxer Chuck Wepner during a historic moment against Muhammad Ali can also be found through the internet media, "If I survived the Marines, I can survive Ali"
Comments