Legends of Boxing: Rocky Marciano

Christmas is over but legends remain, starting with an unblemished heavyweight

Name: Rocky Marciano

Nickname: The Brockton Blockbuster

Date of First Fight: 17th March 1947

Date of Retirement: 21st September 1955

Titles: World heavyweight championship

Biography:

Rocky Marciano was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on 1st September 1923 in Brockton, Massachusetts. A naturally strong man, Marciano enjoyed weightlifting as a youngster. His amateur career never took off as he was drafted into the United States Army.

Turning professional in 1947, the Brockton brawler briefly returned to the amateurs before turning over for real in 1948. Rocky raced to 16-0, all by knockout before Don Mogard became the first man to take him the distance.

Even at this early stage, some opponents were able to win rounds and display better boxing skills than ‘Rocco Marchegiano’, but the man who would soon become Rocky Marciano had the desire and power to defeat anyone.

On his way to a world title shot, Marciano battled past two tough Bronx boxers in Carmine ‘Bingo’ Vingo, who he knocked out, and unbeaten Roland LaStarza, who he outlasted on a split decision. The LaStarza fight was very closely contested, but Rocky got the nod.

He moved on to add the recognised name of former champion Joe Louis to his record by eighth-round stoppage in 1951 and defeated 89-fight veteran Harry Matthews in a world title eliminator the following year.

When he finally fought the champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, Marciano was dropped in round one by a left hook. The challenger was struggling badly with a broken nose and was behind on the scorecards when he finally turned it around. Rocky landed his ‘Suzie Q’ right hand to knock the older man out in round 13.

They fought a rematch in 1953, and Marciano took Walcott out in round one to begin his successful title run properly. The first defence was a knockout win over old foe Roland LaStarza before a difficult points win over Ezzard Charles. Marciano then knocked the former heavyweight king out in round eight of their rematch.

Rocky closed his career out with a KO of London’s Don Cockell and a stoppage of Archie Moore. The ‘Old Mongoose’ floored Marciano early but was on the end of a beating for much of the bout. Rocky decided to leave the sport on his own terms and the win over Moore in 1955 was his final bout.

Short for a heavyweight of modern standards, Marciano made up for his size with ferocious punching power, good stamina, relentless will to win and a solid chin that could absorb heavy blows.

Marciano’s heavyweight title reign was filled with explosive knockouts. Only Ezzard Charles managed to last the 15-round distance and Marciano stopped him in their rematch. Rocky held the heavyweight world championship for four years and placed his name in the history books as the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated.

As a baby, Marciano contracted pneumonia and almost died. Long before his boxing career, he held a variety of manual labour jobs. Marciano worked as a ditch digger, shoemaker and coal supplier.

In 1970, after Marciano had retired, a computer simulation predicted how a fight between Rocky and Muhammad Ali might’ve ended had they fought.

Image Credits: YouTube, Fight City.