Rocky Marciano - Biography, Legacy

Heavyweight boxing champion, born in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA. He first took up boxing as a serviceman in Britain during World War 2, turned professional in 1947, and made his name when he defeated the former world champion, Joe Louis, in 1951. He won the world title from Jersey Joe Walcott the following year, and when he retired in 1956 was the only undefeated world heavyweight champion, with a professional record of 49 bouts and 49 victories, including 43 by knockout. He died in an air-crash in Newton, IA.

Rocky Marciano
Statistics
Real name	Rocco Francis Marchegiano
Nickname	The Brockton Blockbuster, The Rock from Brockton
Weight	Heavyweight
Nationality	American
Birth date	September 1, 1923
Birth place	Brockton, Massachusetts
Death date	August 31, 1969
Death place	Newton, Iowa
Style	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	49
Wins by KO	43
Losses	0
Draws	0
No contests	0

Rocco Francis Marchegiano, better known as Rocky Marciano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969), was an American boxer. Marciano remains the only undefeated heavyweight champion in history.

Biography

Early years

Marciano, an Italian American, was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Marciano found work as a chute man on delivery trucks for the Brockton Ice and Coal Company and later worked as shoe salesman.

Amateur circuit

While awaiting discharge from the army, Rocky decided to take part in an amateur boxing competition, where he represented the Army and won. Marciano won his first two bouts by knockouts in the first round, but by the third bout, his knuckles were damaged, and he lost by decision for the championship.

Professional career

On March 17, 1947, Rocky finally stepped into the ring as a professional competitor for the first time.

Don Mogard became the first boxer to last the distance with "The Rock," but Rocky won by decision.

He won three more fights by knockout, and then he met Ted Lowry, who, according to many scribes and witnesses, probably managed to win three or four of the ten rounds from Rocky. Marciano again won, by unanimous decision. After that, he won four more by knockout, and, after a win in six over Red Applegate, he was showcased on national TV for the first time, when he knocked out Rex Layne in six rounds on July 12, 1951.

In no time Marciano was a ranked heavyweight. After four more wins, including victories over Lee Savold and Harry Matthews, Marciano faced World Heavyweight Champion Jersey Joe Walcott in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952. After being dropped in round one, Marciano got up and knocked Walcott out in the thirteenth round, becoming the new Heavyweight Champion. A rematch was fought one year later, and, in Marciano's first title defense, he retained the title with a first-round knockout of Walcott. Next, it was La Starza's turn to challenge Marciano, and after building a small lead on the judges' scorecards all the way to the middle rounds, La Starza was knocked out in eleven by the champion.

Then came former World Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles, whom Marciano beat by a decision in their first bout. After having his nose split in round six of the rematch, Marciano retained the title with an eighth-round knockout win. Then Marciano met British and European champion Don Cockell and beat him in nine rounds rounds). In his last bout, Marciano got up off the canvas in round two to retain his title by a knockout in nine against the equally-legendary Light-Heavyweight Champion of the World Archie Moore (Moore was saved by the bell in the 8th round).

Rocky was named fighter/boxer of the year in 1952 and 1954 by Ring Magazine.

Rocky said, "The reason why I win my fights, is because I am a spartan."

After boxing

After his retirement, Marciano invested in restaurants and lived comfortably, though many of his investments (such as buying Florida wetlands) were disastrous.

He hosted a weekly boxing show on TV for one year and for a brief period worked as a troubleshooting referee in wrestling (Marciano was a good wrestler in high school).

Death

In 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday, Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane, a Cessna 172 () headed to Des Moines, Iowa.

Legacy

Rocky had a professional record of 49-0 with forty-three knockouts. On December 7, 1955, Bob Baker defeated Nino Valdez, with the winner to have the chance to challenge Marciano.

Marciano holds the record for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight and for being the only World Heavyweight Champion to go undefeated throughout his career.

There were other undefeated boxers throughout history, but many of them had at least one draw.

Rocky was knocked down to the canvas only twice — for a total of few seconds — in his entire professional career.

Marciano was the subject of the 1999 made-for-TV film, Rocky Marciano as well as Marciano in 1979. In the movie Rocky, Rocky Balboa's trainer, Mickey, told him that his boxing style and heart reminded him of Marciano.

Marciano, like rivals Louis, Walcott, and Moore, is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Other awards that Marciano won included the Hickok Belt for top professional athlete of the year - 1952.

Numerous books have been written about Marciano, including: Rocky Marciano, Biography of a First Son, whose cover appears at the top of this page.

Rocky Marciano is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.