Premiering tonight on ESPN, THE REAL ROCKY details the career of CHARLES “CHUCK” WEPNER (aka THE BAYONNE BLEEDER), who was the real-life inspiration for SYLVESTER STALLONE’S iconic character, ROCKY. A journeyman fighter who fought for over a decade, WEPNER was the New Jersey State Heavyweight Champion in 1964 and hit the ring with the likes of GEORGE FORMAN, SONNY LISTON, MUHAMMAD ALI and ANDRE THE GIANT. One of the sport’s true originals, WEPNER is a former Marine who spent three years in prison for cocaine possession and was placed on probation for his part in an autograph forgery scheme. As colorful as they come, WEPNER will tell his story to anyone who’ll listen and sports fans will get an earful with tonight’s ESPN documentary. At the recent press conference to promote the special, WEPNER jumped all over a reporter who wasn’t familiar with the legend and then talked about his run-in with ANDRE THE GIANT. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE REAL ROCKY airs tonight on ESPN