Chuck Wepner, the ham and egger professional boxer who nearly beat heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and thus inspired the Sylvester Stallone series of Rocky movies, was honored today with his own statute in his Bayonne, NJ hometown.
Wepner was a game but limited fighter in his career. Known as the “Bayonne Bleeder” for his penchant of absorbing numerous blows, Wepner was supposed to be a convenient stepping stone when he met Muhammad Ali on March 24, 1975.
The match was Ali’s first boxing match since he reclaimed the heavyweight championship from George Foreman in the famed “Rumble in the Jungle” match in Kinshasa, Zaire in Africa.
Held at the Richfield Coliseum in Ohio, the fight with Wepner was billed “Give The White Guy a Break.” No one gave Wepner much of a chance.
But Wepner more than held his own, knocking Ali down in the ring and hammering away at the champ.
Wepner was a game but limited fighter in his career. Known as the “Bayonne Bleeder” for his penchant of absorbing numerous blows, Wepner was supposed to be a convenient stepping stone when he met Muhammad Ali on March 24, 1975.
The match was Ali’s first boxing match since he reclaimed the heavyweight championship from George Foreman in the famed “Rumble in the Jungle” match in Kinshasa, Zaire in Africa.
Held at the Richfield Coliseum in Ohio, the fight with Wepner was billed “Give The White Guy a Break.” No one gave Wepner much of a chance.
But Wepner more than held his own, knocking Ali down in the ring and hammering away at the champ.
- 11/13/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Dozens of actors, musicians, sports personalities and other distinguished guests donated their time on September 11th to honor the memories of those who lost their lives on 9/11 by raising more than $12 million for charities around the world.
Gene Simmons At Bgc Charity Day
This special event, called Charity Day, is hosted each year by Bgc Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets, and its affiliates Cantor Fitzgerald and Gfi Group. Celebrities who attended the event included Matthew McConaughey, Common, and Liev Schreiber in New York, and Nicole Scherzinger, Tom Hardy and Jimmy Carr in London.
In addition to the millions of dollars raised for many worthy causes, Bgc Partners, Cantor Fitzgerald and Gfi Group announced they are raising $5 million for the families severely impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Jose in Puerto Rico. These funds will be raised over the next several months and...
Gene Simmons At Bgc Charity Day
This special event, called Charity Day, is hosted each year by Bgc Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets, and its affiliates Cantor Fitzgerald and Gfi Group. Celebrities who attended the event included Matthew McConaughey, Common, and Liev Schreiber in New York, and Nicole Scherzinger, Tom Hardy and Jimmy Carr in London.
In addition to the millions of dollars raised for many worthy causes, Bgc Partners, Cantor Fitzgerald and Gfi Group announced they are raising $5 million for the families severely impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Jose in Puerto Rico. These funds will be raised over the next several months and...
- 9/25/2018
- Look to the Stars
"Ok, listen, I gotta play you something." Tracy Morgan gestures to a young man, one of a gaggle of publicists and assistants and network reps hovering around the periphery of an Austin conference room. Some of them are checking their phones, or pretending to. Others are simply staring nervously at the man at the center of the room. The 49-year-old comedian is here with The Last O.G., the TBS comedy that will mark his long-awaited, somewhat delayed post-accident return to TV and is premiering at SXSW later that day. (It...
- 4/3/2018
- Rollingstone.com
David Letterman paid tribute to one of the world’s most famous sports venues Monday — with help from some of the athletes who have competed there. Carmelo Anthony, Walt “Clyde” Frasier, John McEnroe, Rod Gilbert, Larry Johnson, Adam Graves, John Starks, Gerry Cooney, Bill Bradley and Henrik Lundqvist turned up on “The Late Show With David Letterman” to read “Top Ten Career Highlights at Madison Square Garden.” Also read: David Letterman Wants Seth Meyers to Change ‘Late Night’ Show Name (Video) This is worth watching just for the fringe on Frasier’s jacket. His contribution to the list: “Dishing and swishing,...
- 10/15/2013
- by Tim Molloy
- The Wrap
Holt McCallany has claimed that boxers have "embraced" his show Lights Out. McCallany, who has previously said that fighters enjoy the series, told Collider that some famous faces have asked for cameos in the FX series. "One of the most gratifying things to me about this whole experience was that the real fighters have really embraced the show," he said. "A lot of the real guys really like the show a lot. Lennox Lewis wants to come on. Sugar Ray Leonard wants to come on. Gerry Cooney brings it up to me every time I see him. So if that's any indication of what they think of the show, they not only love the show but they'd love to come work with us and do anything." Meanwhile, McCallany's co-star Warren (more)...
- 3/23/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Check out these photos from the Lights Out Red Carpet premiere in NYC. Series stars in attendance included Holt McCallany (The Losers, Burn Notice), Pablo Schreiber (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Stacy Keach (White Knight, Two and a Half Men), Meredith Hagner, Catherine McCormack (Midnight Man), Ryann Shane, Lily Pilblad (Fringe), Billy Brown and Reg E. Cathey (30 Rock). Boxing legends invited include: Gerry Cooney, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Micky Ward and . Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Scream 4) was the invited guest of Klitschko but did not make the carpet.
About Lights Out:
Lights Out, from Executive Producer/Showrunner Warren Leight (In Treatment), stars Holt McCallany (CSI: Miami) as an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife and three daughters after retiring from the ring. Financial problems leave him at a perilous crossroads – battling the urge to return to boxing...
About Lights Out:
Lights Out, from Executive Producer/Showrunner Warren Leight (In Treatment), stars Holt McCallany (CSI: Miami) as an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife and three daughters after retiring from the ring. Financial problems leave him at a perilous crossroads – battling the urge to return to boxing...
- 1/10/2011
- by Bags
- BuzzFocus.com
Evander Holyfield was among the celebrities to attend the first annual “Hassle at the Castle” on Friday evening at the famed Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York.
The star-studded professional boxing event and gala was co-produced by Film Producer John Edmonds Kozma of Bang Productions, Inc. and promoted by Nick Garone of X-Cel Worldwide. The event benefited the Elena Melius Foundation, which strongly supports local charities and organizations primarily concerned with the health and welfare of children, and the Shea Megale Trust for Sma. The event also featured celebrity meet and greets, a fashion show, and a special tribute to boxing legend Lou Duva for his 88th birthday. Celebrities in attendance included Michael Lohan, Kate Major, Dina Lohan, Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants), Pernell Whitaker, Tyrell Biggs, Gerry Cooney, Burt Sugar and others.
Read more...
The star-studded professional boxing event and gala was co-produced by Film Producer John Edmonds Kozma of Bang Productions, Inc. and promoted by Nick Garone of X-Cel Worldwide. The event benefited the Elena Melius Foundation, which strongly supports local charities and organizations primarily concerned with the health and welfare of children, and the Shea Megale Trust for Sma. The event also featured celebrity meet and greets, a fashion show, and a special tribute to boxing legend Lou Duva for his 88th birthday. Celebrities in attendance included Michael Lohan, Kate Major, Dina Lohan, Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants), Pernell Whitaker, Tyrell Biggs, Gerry Cooney, Burt Sugar and others.
Read more...
- 5/11/2010
- Look to the Stars
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