Duane Bobick vs Chuck Wepner in a 12 round non-title fight
Date: October 2, 1976
Venue: Utica, New York
Bobick stance: orthodox
Wepner stance: orthodox
As an amateur, Duane Bobick beat Teofilo Stevenson and Larry Holmes, so there was considerable interest in him when he turned pro in the spring of 1973. His trainer and manager was Joe Frazier. By the time he faced Wepner, he had amassed a record of 36-0 with 31 knockouts, and he was often referred to as the Great White Hope. His biggest wins in the pro ranks were against, Mike Weaver, Randy Neumann and Scott LeDoux.
Bobick was ranked inside the top 10, and there were talks for him to challenge Muhammad Ali. Negotiations broke down, and he was matched with several fringe contenders while waiting for a breakthrough fight against a top ranked contender.
Chuck Wepner was probably the ultimate boxing journeyman who would face anyone, and always gave a good account of himself. He turned pro in 1964, and fought most of the big names in the heavyweight division in the 1960s and 1970s. He usually lost when hr stepped up in class, but occasionally he beat someone ranked higher, such as Randy Neumann and Ernie Terrell. Wepner's big moment came in March 1975, when he challenged Muhammad Ali for his world title. The challenger actually scored a knockdown in the ninth round, and was just 19 seconds from completing the 15 round contest when the referee waved it off.
What set Wepner apart from most journeymen was his self confidence and will to win. His biggest flaw was a tendency to cut, hence his nickname 'The Bayonne Bleeder'. Most boxers would have been happy to take a payday against Ali and try to survive in the ring. Wepner, despite all his limitations, gave the fight everything he had, and he actually believed he could win. Apparently, on the night of his big fight he told his wife that she would be sleeping with the heavyweight champion of the world that night. When he returned to the hotel after his loss, his wife asked him "Am I going to Ali's room tonight, or is he coming to mine?"
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Duane Bobick - https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/15810
Chuck Wepner - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/97
Date: October 2, 1976
Venue: Utica, New York
Bobick stance: orthodox
Wepner stance: orthodox
As an amateur, Duane Bobick beat Teofilo Stevenson and Larry Holmes, so there was considerable interest in him when he turned pro in the spring of 1973. His trainer and manager was Joe Frazier. By the time he faced Wepner, he had amassed a record of 36-0 with 31 knockouts, and he was often referred to as the Great White Hope. His biggest wins in the pro ranks were against, Mike Weaver, Randy Neumann and Scott LeDoux.
Bobick was ranked inside the top 10, and there were talks for him to challenge Muhammad Ali. Negotiations broke down, and he was matched with several fringe contenders while waiting for a breakthrough fight against a top ranked contender.
Chuck Wepner was probably the ultimate boxing journeyman who would face anyone, and always gave a good account of himself. He turned pro in 1964, and fought most of the big names in the heavyweight division in the 1960s and 1970s. He usually lost when hr stepped up in class, but occasionally he beat someone ranked higher, such as Randy Neumann and Ernie Terrell. Wepner's big moment came in March 1975, when he challenged Muhammad Ali for his world title. The challenger actually scored a knockdown in the ninth round, and was just 19 seconds from completing the 15 round contest when the referee waved it off.
What set Wepner apart from most journeymen was his self confidence and will to win. His biggest flaw was a tendency to cut, hence his nickname 'The Bayonne Bleeder'. Most boxers would have been happy to take a payday against Ali and try to survive in the ring. Wepner, despite all his limitations, gave the fight everything he had, and he actually believed he could win. Apparently, on the night of his big fight he told his wife that she would be sleeping with the heavyweight champion of the world that night. When he returned to the hotel after his loss, his wife asked him "Am I going to Ali's room tonight, or is he coming to mine?"
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Duane Bobick - https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/15810
Chuck Wepner - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/97
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