Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner

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Challenger rankings
Org. Pos. As of Published
1+ Mth. Old
WBA NR 21.11.1974 21.11.1974
WBC NR 30.11.1974 by 10.12.1974
Ring N/A N/A 22.11-06.12.1974
2+ Mth. Old
WBA NR 22.10.1974 22.10.1974
WBC NR 30.09.1974 11.10.1974
Ring 8 ~20.10.1974 by 05.11.1974
3+ Mth. Old
WBA NR 19.09.1974 19.09.1974
WBC NR 30.09.1974 11.10.1974
Ring 8 15.09.1974 25.09.1974
T1larg.wepner.ali.si.jpg

Muhammad Ali 224 lbs beat Chuck Wepner 225 lbs by TKO at 2:41 in round 15 of 15

  • Date: 1975-03-24
  • Location: Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, USA
  • Referee: Tony Perez 135-130
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  • Judge: Jackie Keough 136-129
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  • Judge: Sam Taormina 138-129
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Notes

Timeline

  • On November 24, it was reported that Wepner's manager Al Braverman was in negotiations to line up his client against Ali, and that he was scheduled to meet with Don King in the next few days.[1]
  • On December 24, a memorandum was signed which guaranteed that Herbert Muhammad's legal firm C.B. Atkins and Associates of Chicago has the right to negotiate and sign a match between Ali and Wepner "within 30 days of this memorandum".[2]
  • After the original idea to fight Ron Lyle at Madison Square Garden on March 24 fell through, Herbert Muhammad stated on January 14 that another deal was reached to fight Wepner in Cleveland; Muhammad said that although Ali had not yet signed the contract, "the fight was definitely on"; the contract was signed later that day.[3]

Ranking Movements

  • Wepner ranked eighth-best heavyweight contender by Ring Magazine since at least September.
  • Up until the day of the fight, Ring Magazine's top 8 remained stable with minor movements; the only new entry was Jimmy Young who entered the rankings in March after defeating third-ranked Ron Lyle. Lyle dropped to eighth, while Wepner slid to ninth.
  • Wepner was not ranked among top 10 contenders by the WBA or WBC.

The Fight

  • Ali earned $1.6 million and Wepner made $100,000.
  • The fight was shown on closed circuit TV in 150 locations.
  • There was a crowd of 14,847 at the Richfield Coliseum.
  • Ali was a 10 to 1 betting favorite.
  • Ali toyed with Wepner through the first eight rounds.
  • In the ninth round, Wepner stepped on Ali's foot and hit him with a right to the ribs, which knocked the champion flat on his back for an official knockdown.
  • After the knockdown, Ali started to fight with more purpose and dominated rounds ten through fifteen.
  • In the fifteenth round, Ali battered Wepner until the "Bayonne Bleeder" crumpled into the ropes. Wepner struggled to get up, and the referee stopped the fight.
  • Wepner's gutsy performance against Ali inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the Oscar-winning film Rocky.
  • Poster
  • Program Cover
  • Photo: Wepner goes down in round fifteen

Articles


Preceded by:
Foreman vs. Ali 		WBA Heavyweight Title Fight
# 20 		Succeeded by:
Ali vs. Lyle
Preceded by:
Foreman vs. Ali 		WBC Heavyweight Title Fight
# 21 		Succeeded by:
Ali vs. Lyle


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