The long-lasting trial between Sylvester Stallone and Charles Wepner has finally come to an end, via an undisclosed financial settlement outside the court. The lawsuit was filed by Wepner in 2003, claiming that the actor used his life story without paying him a dime or even asking for a proper authorization.
The boxer, known in his glory days as 'Bayonette Bleeder', due to his sustained injuries even when winning, aimed for at least $15 million, back in 2003, when the trial started.
His shot to fame came when he fought champion Muhammad Ali in 1975 and knocked the boxing titan to the ground in the ninth round. Nevertheless, the match was lost by technical knockout, 19 seconds before the bell rang.
Stallone was still a struggling and unknown actor at the time. He watched the fight, live in California and he later admitted that it was the source of inspiration for the 'Rocky' series. In 2001, he said during an interview: 'What I saw was pretty extraordinary. I saw a man they call the 'Bayonette Bleeder' who didn't have a chance at all against the greatest fighting machine supposedly that ever lived'.
The 'Rocky' series soon became universally acclaimed, winning three Academy Awards and cashing more than $969 million worldwide. The sixth part, also known as 'Rocky Balboa', has already finished shooting and is scheduled for release later this year.
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