46 years ago

Date: 24th March 1975

Venue: Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, USA

Title: WBC & WBA World Heavyweight Titles

Promoted by: Don King Productions

Tv: Closed Circuit Television

Muhammad Ali
( 45 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 223 1/2 lbs

Chuck Wepner
( 31 - 9 - 2 )
Weight: 225 lbs

Five months after regaining the WBC & WBA World heavyweight titles from George Foreman in Zaire, Ali made his first defence against Wepner at The Richfield Coliseum in Richfield Township, Ohio.

Billed as 'Give the White Guy a Break', the match was seen as a mismatch. Wepner, known as 'The Bayonne Bleeder' because of his propensity to cuts, had lost on nine occasions and needed 120 stitches after his June 1970 fight against Sonny Liston.

Ali knocked out Wepner in the 15th round, referee Tony Perez reaching the count of ten at 2:41 of the final round.

Wepner is credited with scoring a knockdown against Ali but he actually stepped on Ali's foot.

It is this fight that is said to have been the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky character.