Rocky Marciano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rocky MarcianoRocky MarcianoRocky MarcianoRocky Marciano

StatisticsStatisticsStatisticsStatistics Real nameReal nameReal nameReal name Rocco Francis Marchegiano Nickname(s)Nickname(s)Nickname(s)Nickname(s) The Brockton Blockbuster The Rock from Brockton Rated atRated atRated atRated at Heavyweight HeightHeightHeightHeight 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) ReachReachReachReach 68 in (173 cm) NationalityNationalityNationalityNationality American BornBornBornBorn September 1, 1923 Brockton, Massachusetts

DiedDiedDiedDied August 31, 1969 (aged 45) Near Newton Iowa StanceStanceStanceStance Orthodox Boxing recordBoxing recordBoxing recordBoxing record Total fightsTotal fightsTotal fightsTotal fights 49 WinsWinsWinsWins 49 Wins by KOWins by KOWins by KOWins by KO 43 LossesLossesLossesLosses 0 DrawsDrawsDrawsDraws 0 No contestsNo contestsNo contestsNo contests 0 Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1, 1923 – August 31,

1969) was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from

September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only person to hold the heavyweight

title without a bout tie or defeat during his entire career. Marciano defended his title six times,

against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles(twice), Don Cockell,

and Archie Moore.

He has been ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all

time.[1]

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Early life

• 2 Amateur career

• 3 Professional career

• 4 Marciano vs. La Starza

• 5 Subsequent bouts

• 6 Championship fights

• 7 After boxing

• 8 Death

• 9 Legacy

• 10 Professional boxing record

• 11 See also

• 12 References

• 13 Bibliography

• 14 External links

Early life[edit]

Marciano was born and raised on the south side of Brockton, Massachusetts, to Pierino

Marchegiano and Pasqualina Picciuto. Both of his parents were immigrants from Italy. His

father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, while his mother was from San Bartolomeo in

Galdo, Campania. Rocky had two brothers, Peter and Louis and three sisters, Alice,

Concetta, and Elizabeth. When he was about eighteen months old, Marciano

contracted pneumonia, from which he almost died.

In his youth, he played baseball with his brother Sonny and David Rooslet (a neighborhood

friend of Marciano's), worked out on homemadeweightlifting equipment (later in his life,

Marciano was also a client of Charles Atlas)[2] and used a stuffed mailbag that hung from a

tree in his back yard as a heavy bag. He attended Brockton High School, where he played

both baseball and football. However, he was cut from the school baseball team because he

had joined a church league, violating a school rule forbidding players from joining other

teams. He dropped out of school after finishing tenth grade.

Marciano then worked as a chute man on delivery trucks for the Brockton Ice and Coal

Company. He also worked as a ditch digger and as a shoemaker. Rocky was also a resident

of Hanson, Massachusetts; the house he lived in still stands on Main Street.

In March 1943, Marciano was drafted into the army for a term of two years. Stationed

in Swansea, Wales, he helped ferry supplies across the English Channel to Normandy.

After the war ended, he completed his service in March 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington.[3]

Amateur career[edit]

Marciano's amateur record was 8–4.[4] While awaiting discharge, Marciano, representing the

army, won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament. His amateur career was

interrupted on March 17, 1947, when Marciano stepped into the ring as a professional

competitor. That night, he knocked out Lee Epperson in three rounds. In an unusual move

Marciano returned to the amateur ranks and fought in the Golden Gloves All-East

Championship Tournament in March 1948. He was beaten by Coley Wallace.[5] He

continued to fight as an amateur throughout the spring and competed in the AAU Olympic

tryouts in the Boston Garden. There, he knocked out George McInnis, but hurt his hands

during the bout and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. That was his last amateur

bout.[6]

In late March, 1947, Marciano and several friends traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to

try out for the Fayetteville Cubs, a farm team for the Chicago Cubs baseball

team.[7] Marciano lasted three weeks before being cut. After failing to find a spot on another

team, he returned to Brockton and began boxing training with longtime friend Allie

Colombo. Al Weill and Chick Wergeles served as his managers and Charley Goldman as

his trainer and teacher.

Professional career[edit]

Although he had one professional fight (against Lee Epperson), on his record, Marciano

began fighting permanently as a professional boxer on July 12, 1948. That night, he notched

a win over Harry Bilizarian (3–6–0). He won his first sixteen bouts by knockout, all before the

fifth round, and nine before the first round was over. Don Mogard (17–9–1) became the first

boxer to last the distance (full 10 rounds scheduled) with "The Rock," but Marciano won by

unanimous decision.

Early in his career, he changed the spelling of his last name Marchegiano (Italian

pronunciation: [markeˈdʒːano]). The ring announcer in Providence, Rhode Island, could not

pronounce Marchegiano, so Marciano's handler, Al Weill, suggested they create a

pseudonym. The first suggestion was Rocky Mack, which Marciano rejected. He decided to

go with the more Italian-sounding "Marciano"[8] (/mərˈsiɑːnoʊ/, Italian pronunciation: [marˈtʃaːno]).

Marciano won three more fights by knockout and then he met Ted Lowry (58–48–9), who,

according to many scribes and witnesses, probably managed to win three or four of the ten

rounds from Marciano. Nevertheless, Marciano kept his winning streak alive by beating

Lowry by unanimous decision. Four more knockout wins followed, including a five-rounder

on December 19, 1949, with Phil Muscato (56–20–0), an

experienced heavyweight from Buffalo, New York, and the first "name fighter" Marciano

would face. Three weeks after that fight, Marciano beat Carmine Vingo (16–1–0) by a fifth

round knockout in New York that almost killed Vingo.

Marciano vs. La Starza[edit]

On March 24, 1950, Marciano fought Roland La Starza, winning by split decision. La Starza

may have come closer than any other boxer to defeating Marciano as a professional. The

scoring for the bout was 5–4, 4–5, 5–5 and Marciano won on a supplemental point system

used by New York and Massachusetts at that time. The scoring system did not award an

extra point for a knockdown and Marciano scored a knockdown in the fight. Referee Watson

decided the bout, scoring it 9–6 for Marciano. Both boxers were undefeated at the time of

the fight, with La Starza's record at 37–0.

Subsequent bouts[edit]

Marciano won three more knockouts in a row before a rematch with Lowry (61–56–10),

which Marciano again won by unanimous decision. After that, he won four more by knockout,

and, after a decision over Red Applegate (11–14–2) in late April 1951, he was showcased

on national television for the first time, when he knocked out Rex Layne (34–1–2) in six

rounds on July 12, 1951.

On Oct. 27, 1951, the 28-year-old Marciano took on the 37-year-old Joe Louis. Coming into

the bout, Marciano was a 6½-to-5 underdog.[9] Marciano upset Louis in what was the latter's

last career bout. The result left Marciano with mixed emotions, as Louis had been his

childhood idol.[citation needed]

After four more wins, including victories over 35-year-old Lee Savold (96–37–3) and Harry

Matthews (81–3–5), Marciano received an opportunity to win the title.

Championship fights[edit]

Marciano, 29, faced the World Heavyweight Champion, 38-year-old Jersey Joe Walcott,

in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952. Walcott dropped Marciano in the first round and

steadily built a points lead; but in the thirteenth, Walcott used his trademark feint to set up

his right hand, but Marciano's "Suzie Q" landed first. Marciano landed a glancing right hook

as Walcott slumped to his knees with his arm draped over the ropes. He lay motionless long

after he had been counted out and Marciano became the new

World Heavyweight Champion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all

scorecards, 8–4, 7–5 and 7–4.

His first defense came a year later, a rematch against Walcott, 39, who this time was

knocked out in the first round.

Next, it was Roland La Starza's turn to challenge Marciano. After building a small lead on

the judges' scorecards all the way to the middle rounds, Marciano won the rematch by a

technical knockout in the eleventh round.

Then came two consecutive bouts against former World Heavyweight Champion and light

heavyweight legend Ezzard Charles, 33, who became the only man to ever last fifteen

rounds against Marciano.[10] Marciano won the first fight on points and the second by an

eighth-round knockout. Then, Marciano met British and European Champion Don Cockell.

Marciano knocked him out in the ninth round.

Marciano's last title bout was against 38-year-old Archie Moore, on September 21, 1955.

The bout was originally scheduled for September 20, but because of hurricane warnings, it

had to be delayed a day. Marciano was knocked down for a four count in the second round,

but recovered and retained his title with a knockout in round nine.

Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956, aged 32.[11] He finished his career at

49-0.

After boxing[edit]

Marciano considered a comeback in 1959 when Ingemar Johansson won the Heavyweight

Championship from Floyd Patterson on June 26, 1959. After only a month of training in

nearly four years, Marciano decided against it and never seriously considered a comeback

again.[12]

After his retirement, Marciano entered the world of television, first appearing in

the Combat! episode "Masquerade" and then hosting a weekly boxing show on TV in 1961.

For a brief period, he worked as a troubleshooting referee in wrestling (Marciano was a good

wrestler in high school). He continued as a referee and boxing commentator in boxing

matches for many years. He was also active in business as a partner and vice president of

Papa Luigi Spaghetti Dens, a San Francisco based franchise company formed by Joe

Kearns and James Braly. He built a custom home at 641 NW 24 street in Wilton Manors,

Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The house still stands today.

In late July 1969, shortly before his death, Marciano participated in the filming of the

fantasy The Superfight: Marciano vs. Ali. The two boxers were filmed sparring, then the film

was edited to match a computer simulation of a hypothetical fight between them, each in

their prime. It aired on January 20, 1970, with one version having Marciano winning and the

second version having Ali winning. When asked if he could have defeated Ali in a real fight,

Marciano replied: "I'd be conceited if I said I could, but I'd be lying if I said I couldn't."[citation

needed] When asked about his opinion of the result, Ali jokingly dismissed the results as racist,

saying "That computer must've been made in Mississippi."[citation needed]

Death[edit]

Main article: 1969 Newton Cessna 172 crash

On August 31, 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday, Marciano was a passenger in a small

private plane, a Cessna 172[13] headed to Des Moines, Iowa. It was at night and bad weather

had set in. The pilot, Glenn Belz, had only 231 total hours of flying time, only 35 of them at

night, and was not certified to fly in instrument meteorological conditions. Belz tried to set

the plane down at a small airfield outside Newton, Iowa, but hit a tree two miles short of the

runway. Marciano, Belz and 22-year-old Frankie Farrell (son of Italian mobster Louis Fratto)

were killed on impact. TheNational Transportation Safety Board report said, "The pilot

attempted an operation exceeding his experience and ability level, continued visual flight

rules under adverse weather conditions and experienced spatial disorientation in the last

moments of the flight."[14][15] Marciano was on his way to give a speech to support a friend's

son and there was a surprise birthday celebration waiting for him. He had hoped to return

early morning for his 46th birthday celebration with his wife. He was coming from a dinner

in Chicago at STP CEO Andy Granatelli's home.

He is interred in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His

wife, who died five years after him at the age of 46, is entombed next to him. His father died

in March 1972 and his mother in early January 1986.

Legacy[edit]

Rocky Marciano was the inspiration for the name, iconography, and fighting style of the title

character Rocky Balboa from Sylvester Stallone's American classic Rocky movie series.

The character Rocky dreams of becoming like his idol Rocky Marciano and later in the

series even gifts his son a "valuable possession given to him by his trainer Mickey who

Marciano gave to Mickey personally".

Rocky Marciano statue in Italy (Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo)

In 1971, Nat Fleischer, perhaps boxing's most famous historian and also editor and founder

of Ring magazine, named Marciano as the all-time 10th

greatest Heavyweight Champion.[16] Nat Fleischer wrote that Marciano was "crude, wild

swinging, awkward, and missed heavily. In his bout with Light

Heavyweight Champion Archie Moore, for example, he missed almost two-thirds of the fifty

odd punches he tossed when he had Archie against the ropes, a perfect target for the kill."[17]

John Durant, author of The Heavyweight Champions, wrote in 1971 (pg. 123) "Critics do not

rate Rocky with the great ones, like Jeffries, Johnson,Dempsey, Tunney, and Louis. He

never faced top-fighters like they did. It was not Rocky's fault, of course, that there was not

much talent when he was fighting. He fought them all and that is what a champion is

supposed to do."

In December 1962, a Ring magazine poll of 40 boxing experts had Jack Dempsey rated the

#1 Heavyweight of all time, with Joe Louis 2nd, Jack Johnson 3rd and Marciano 7th. Two

boxing historians, Herb Goldman and Charley Rose, and John McCallum's Survey of Old

Timers (survey of a group of historians and writers), rated Marciano at #7, #8 and #9 of

greatest heavyweights of all time respectively.[18][19]

In 1998, Ring named Marciano as the 6th greatest Heavyweight Champion ever. In

2002, Ring numbered Marciano at #12 on the list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80

Years. In 2003, Ring rated Marciano #14 on the list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. In

2005, Marciano was named the fifth greatest heavyweight of all time by the International

Boxing Research Organization.[20] A 1977 ranking by Ring listed Marciano as the

greatest Italian American fighter. In 2007, on ESPN.com's list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of

All Time, Marciano was ranked #14.

Marciano holds the record with heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the longest undefeated streak

by a heavyweight.[citation needed] He also has the record for being the only World Heavyweight

Champion to go undefeated throughout his career. Willie Pep, a featherweight, had a

perfect 62–0 record before he was defeated once, followed by a 72–0–1 undefeated

streak. Packy McFarland was a lightweight (fighting between 1904–1915) who lost his first

fight and then won his next 98, though he never won the lightweight title. Heavyweight

Champion Gene Tunney never suffered a defeat at heavyweight and retired as champion,

although he did lose one fight at light heavyweight.

Throughout history, only a few boxers have retired as undefeated world champions. As of

2009 apart from Marciano only Michael Loewe, Pichit Sitbangprachan, Harry Simon, Sven

Ottke andJoe Calzaghe retired with a perfect record containing neither defeats nor draws.

Marciano has the highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight champion in history with

87.76%. Marciano was knocked down to the canvas only twice in his professional career.

The first occurred in his first championship against Jersey Joe Walcott, 38, and the second

occurred against Archie Moore, 38.

On the bootleg tapes of The Beatles in session in 1965 recording Think For Yourself, John

Lennon can be heard reflecting and joking about a meeting he had with Marciano, in which

Marciano talked about Joe Louis.

Marciano's punch was tested and it was featured in the December 1963 issue of Boxing

Illustrated: "Marciano's knockout blow packs more explosive energy than an

armour-piercing bullet and represents as much energy as would be required to spot lift 1000

pounds one foot off the ground."[21][22]

Marciano was named fighter of the year by Ring three times. His three championship fights

between 1952–54 were named fights of the year by that magazine. Marciano won the Sugar

Ray Robinson Award in 1952. In 2006, an ESPN poll voted Marciano's 1952 championship

bout against Walcott as the greatest knockout ever. Marciano also received the Hickok Belt

for top professional athlete of the year in 1952. In 1955, he was voted the second most

important American athlete of the year.

Marciano is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame and the World Boxing Hall

Of Fame.

A bronze statue of Marciano was planned for a 2009 completion date in his hometown

of Brockton, Massachusetts, to be a gift to the city by the World Boxing Council. The artist

Mario Rendon, head of the Instituto Universitario de las Bellas Artes in Colima, Mexico, was

selected to sculpt the statue.[23] After years of delays in the planning stages,[24] the

groundbreaking for the statue was held on April 1, 2012, on the grounds of Brockton High

School.[25] The official unveiling of the statue is set for September 23, 2012, which is the 60th

anniversary of Marciano winning the World Heavyweight title. At the time of his death, he

resided in Wilton Manors, Florida.

A bronze statue of Marciano has been erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy, to celebrate the

birthplace of Marciano's father, as well as at "Marciano Stadium" on the Grounds of the

Brockton, Massachusetts High School.

Professional boxing record[edit] 49 Wins49 Wins49 Wins49 Wins (43 knockouts, 6 decisions), 0 Losses0 Losses0 Losses0 Losses, 0 Draws0 Draws0 Draws0 Draws[26] ReReReRes.s.s.s. RecorRecorRecorRecordddd OpponentOpponentOpponentOpponent TypTypTypTypeeee RounRounRounRoundddd DateDateDateDate LocationLocationLocationLocation NotesNotesNotesNotes Win 49–0 Archie Moore KO 9 (15) 21/09/1955 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States Retained World Heavyweight title. Win 48–0 Don Cockell TKO 9 (15) 16/05/1955 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, United States Retained World Heavyweight title. Win 47–0 Ezzard Charles KO 8 (15) 17/09/1954 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States Retained World Heavyweight title. 1954 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.

Win 46–0 Ezzard Charles UD 15 17/06/1954 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States Retained World Heavyweight title. Win 45–0 Roland La Starza TKO 11 (15) 24/09/1953 Polo Grounds, New York, New York, United States Retained World Heavyweight title. 1953 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine. Win 44–0 Jersey Joe Walcott KO 1 (15) 15/05/1953 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, United States Retained World Heavyweight title. Win 43–0 Jersey Joe Walcott KO 13 (15) 23/09/1952 Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Won World Heavyweight title. 1952 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine. Win 42–0 Harry Matthews KO 2 (10) 28/07/1952 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States World Heavyweight Title Eliminator. Win 41–0 Bernie Reynolds KO 3 (10) 12/05/1952 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 40–0 Gino Buonvino KO 2 (10) 21/04/1952 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 39–0 Lee Savold RTD 6 (10) 13/02/1952 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United

States Win 38–0 Joe Louis TKO 8 (10) 26/10/1951 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Joe Louis retired after. Win 37–0 Freddie Beshore KO 4 (10) 27/08/1951 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win 36–0 Rex Layne KO 6 (10) 12/07/1951 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Win 35–0 Willis Applegate UD 10 30/04/1951 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 34–0 Art Henri TKO 9 (10) 26/03/1951 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 33–0 Harold Mitchell TKO 2 (10) 20/03/1951 Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Win 32–0 Keene Simmons TKO 8 (10) 29/01/1951 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 31–0 Bill Wilson TKO 1 (10) 18/12/1950 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 30–0 Ted Lowry UD 10 13/11/1950 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 29–0 Johnny TK 6 (10) 18/09/19 Rhode Island

Shkor O 50 Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 28–0 Gino Buonvino TKO 10 (10) 10/07/1950 Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win 27–0 Eldridge Eatman TKO 3 (10) 05/06/1950 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 26–0 Roland La Starza SD 10 24/03/1950 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Win 25–0 Carmine Vingo KO 6 (10) 30/12/1949 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Win 24–0 Phil Muscato TKO 5 (10) 19/12/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 23–0 Pat Richards TKO 2 (8) 02/12/1949 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Win 22–0 Joe Dominic KO 2 (10) 07/11/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 21–0 Ted Lowry UD 10 10/10/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 20–0 Tommy DiGiorgio KO 4 (10) 26/09/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Win 19–0 Pete Louthis KO 3 (10) 16/08/1949 New Page Arena, New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States Win 18–0 Harry Haft KO 3 (10) 18/07/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 17–0 Don Mogard UD 10 23/05/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 16–0 Jimmy Evans TKO 3 (10) 02/05/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 15–0 Jimmy Walls KO 3 (10) 11/04/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 14–0 Artie Donato KO 1 (10) 28/03/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 13–0 Johnny Pretzie TKO 5 (10) 21/03/1949 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 12–0 Gilley Ferron TKO 2 (6) 14/12/1948 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win 11–0 James Patrick Connolly TKO 1 (8) 29/11/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Win 10–0 Bob Jefferson TKO 2 (6) 04/10/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 9–0 Gilbert Cardone KO 1 (4) 30/09/1948 Uline Arena, Washington, United States Win 8–0 Bill Hardeman KO 1 (6) 20/09/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 7–0 Humphrey Jackson KO 1 (6) 13/09/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 6–0 Jimmy Weeks TKO 1 (6) 30/08/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 5–0 Eddie Ross KO 1 (6) 23/08/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 4–0 Bobby Quinn KO 3 (4) 09/08/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 3–0 John Edwards KO 1 (4) 19/07/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Win 2–0 Harry Bilzerian TKO 1 (4) 12/07/1948 Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Win 1–0 Lee Epperson KO 3 (4) 17/03/1947 Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States Pro debut for Marciano who used name Rocky Mack.