RAGING ROCKY ON THE ROPES!
Fears Stallone’s damaged ticker will quit in fight over boxing flicks
HOLLYWOOD heavyweight Sylvester Stallone is fighting for his life — and his legacy — after a devastating one-two punch insiders fear could knock him into an early grave!
The 76-year-old Rocky legend is on the ropes over blood pressure–spiking news that folks he calls “bloodsuckers” are looking to swipe some of the iconic characters he created for his blockbuster boxing franchise and launch a new series without him!
Now sources say friends fear the stress could trigger a relapse of the star’s history of dangerous heart problems and put him down for the count!
The Rambo tough guy flew into a froth on Instagram over news Irwin Winkler, producer of the Rocky films, plans to develop the characters of the Rockybased father-son duo Ivan and Viktor Drago for a streaming series.
“IRWIN WINKLER, this PATHETIC 94 year old PRODUCER and HIS MORONIC VULTURE CHILDREN, Charles And David, are once again picking clean THE BONES of another wonderful character I created without even telling
“I APOLOGIZE to the FANS, I never wanted ROCKY characters to be exploited by these parasites.” He also called Winkler “hated, untalented and decrepit,” and demanded: “RETURN MY RIGHTS, BLOODSUCKERS!”
Horrified friends and family of the muscle-bound movie star are bracing for a massive health crisis as Sly continues to blow his top.
“Sly’s friends are saying his battle with Irwin is wreaking havoc with his health,” spills an insider. “The guy’s so angry, you can imagine his veins bulging. The fear is he could have a stroke or a heart attack if he doesn’t calm down!”
But sources say there is little chance Stallone will back away from this beatdown.
“Rocky is a character molded after his own heart and he’s out to put Irwin in his place,” dishes a source. “This has become an obsession, but at what cost? After he has a temper tantrum like the kind you’re seeing on his Instagram page, he seems so exhausted and lacks energy.
“With his previous heart issues, no one would be surprised if he’s having
chest pains!”
Stallone wrote the original 1976 Rocky film and sold the rights to Winkler and fellow producer Robert Chartoff for $350,000 — because he only had $106 to his name.
But his emotional investment in his “baby” could backfire because of his checkered health history — including a devastating blow to the chest he suffered while filming a fight scene for Rocky IV with Dolph Lundgren, the 6-foot-5 Swede who played Ivan Drago.
“He pulverized me,” Stallone confessed. “My heart started to swell. My blood pressure went up to 260 and they thought I was going to be talking to angels.”
Longevity expert Dr. Gabe Mirkin, who has not treated Stallone, says the box-office battering ram was fortunate to survive.
“Hard-chest trauma naturally increases the risk of heart attack,” explains Mirkin. “The sacs around his heart must have filled with blood, constricting the heart. That’s a very dangerous situation!”
And a source squeals: “It’s no secret he was hospitalized with a swollen heart, not that he blames Dolph. People just hope he gets a grip before his heart completely gives out. He’s had some close calls before — and next time he may not be so lucky!”
An insider says Stallone’s longtime quest for a ripped physique also puts him at serious risk.
“Sly really abused his body during his bodybuilding days and the human growth hormone he admitted to taking only serves to increase his risk of a heart attack,” reveals a source.
“Friends suspect he has a lot of joint and muscle pain just by the way he moves around.
“He’s at an age when his past is catching up with him. The intensity of his rage may be the blow that will finally count him out!”