Synopsis

A star-studded and exemplary production from Nu Boyana Film Studios in Sofia. Set in the 1970s, Chuck Wepner is a boxer in the heavy weight class who is on a losing streak. When the outsider is about to compete against Muhammad Ali none of his close friends and family believe that he stands a chance. But the fight proves to be a great surprise when the elderly Wepner survives all 15 rounds against the champ. Overnight Wepner achieves worldwide recognition, and with the fame comes problems. Parties and drug consumption get out of control and his breakdown is inevitable. Only his love for boxing gets him back on his feet again. According to Hepner, Sylvester Stallone, whom he met later in prison in New Jersey while filming Lock up, based his boxing classic Rocky on Hepner’s career, though Stallone has never officially confirmed this claim. Either way, Liev Schreiber performs superbly as a boxer who had a brief taste of success. Further roles are played by Elizabeth Moss, Naomi Watts, Ron Perlman and Michael Rapaport.