By Mark Vester
The Newark Star-Ledger reports that a settlement has been reached in the lawsuit between retired heavyweight Chuck Wepner and actor Sylvester Stallone, over the use of Wepner's likeness in the "Rocky movie" franchise. The legal battle has gone on for 3-years.
"He's been using my name for 28 years, (saying) 'Chuck Wepner's the real Rocky. He's my inspiration,'" Wepner told The Star-Ledger three years ago. "He's made a lot of promises over the years, lot of handshakes and pats on the back."
Wepner claimed that Stallone promised him compensation numerous times. Stallone has always said that he was inspired to finish the Rocky script after he witnessed Wepner's March 24, 1975 loss to then heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali. After years of Stallone allegedly ducking him, Wepner filed a $15 million dollar lawsuit.
Stallone had claimed that an inspiration was not legally binding and the Rocky film was never promoted as Wepner's life story, as Wepner had claimed. Stallone also said that Wepner profited heavy off the Rocky films with numerous appearances over years, under the moniker "The Real Rocky," and his status was elevated from the films.
Attorneys for Stallone and Wepner filed notice of their settlement in federal court in Newark last week, the terms were not disclosed.
