SYLVESTER STALLONE - REAL-LIFE ROCKY TO SUE STALLONE

The real-life inspiration for SYLVESTER STALLONE's mega-hit movie ROCKY is planning to sue the actor.

CHUCK WEPNER has told the PAGE SIX website he is preparing litigation against the CLIFFHANGER star for using his name over the years to promote the series of boxing films.

He fumes, "I have never gotten one penny from these movies which have made over $1 billion.

"People always say to me, 'You must have made a lot of money off those 'Rocky' movies.' But I never made one red cent. It gets embarrassing. He's made me a lot of promises and never delivered. I finally realized that after 30 years, I had to do something."

Wepner, 64 came to prominence briefly when he lost a 15-round battle with heavyweight legend MUHAMMAD ALI in 1975, inspiring Stallone to pen his gritty tale about unknown hopeful ROCKY BALBOA.

Wepner, now a liquor salesman in New Jersey, America, adds, "Stallone's always on TV using my name. He told me I was going to have a role in ROCKY 2 as his sparring partner, CHING WEBBER. I had 32 lines. Then he called me and said they had to cut it out.

"The last straw was when he was in Weehawken filming COPLAND a few years ago and told me that he might have a part for me. I went up there, but nothing ever came of it.

"I've lost a lot of respect for him over the years. I've always liked the guy, and of course I was proud to be the inspiration for a great movie like Rocky, but I've got to do something."

Stallone's publicist PAUL BLOCH said the RAMBO star was in Mexico promoting SPY KIDS 3, and as such, could not be reached for comment.