Rocky WIns Again

Former heavy-weight boxer, Chuck Wepner, has dropped the fight which began in 2003, against Sylester Stallone. Wepner was suing Stallone in order to gain compensation for being the source of inspiration for Stallone's classic boxing movie series, "Rocky."

Stallone had been working on the screenplay for the movie franchise when he saw Wepner go toe to toe with the great Muhammad Ali in 1975. With Don King as his promoter, Wepner was offered the title shot against the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, George Foreman. Wepner never got his chance against George, however, due to Muhammad Ali defeating Foreman. Boxing for the glory, Wepner held his own in the match with Ali, knocking him down in the ninth round. Ali went on to win by technical knockout a mere 19 seconds before the final bell.

Stallone spoke of the great fight. "What I saw was pretty extraordinary. I saw a man they call 'the Bayonne Bleeder' who didn't have a chance at all against the greatest fighting machine supposedly that ever lived," said Stallone in a 2001 interview included on the "Rocky" anniversary DVD.

Known as 'the Bayonne Bleeder', Wepner was suing Stallone over promises that he would receive payment for being the true life motivation for Rocky Balboa, the underdog boxing champion of the "Rocky" films. Wepner, a New Jersey Club fighter, gained the catchy nickname for the injuries he would receive in boxing matches, even when coming out victorious.

Wepner's case claimed that his name was improperly used to promote the "Rocky" films. Stallone's defense was that Wepner had benefited by making various public appearances as 'the real Rocky.'

Stallone had written and starred in "Rocky," and went on to receive the 1977 Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the saga of a Philadelphia boxer, who had to fight his way through life, but finally gets his chance for the heavyweight title by being plucked from obscurity to box champion Apollo Creed. Balboa did not succeed in his quest, but put up quite a battle against opposing boxer and winner, Apollo. Though losing the match, Rocky became an instant champion for underdogs everywhere.

Attorneys for both camps filed papers in U.S. District Court settling the matter in undisclosed terms. The sixth film, "Rocky Balboa," is set to be released December 22nd.