Video rocky marciano biography boxer

American boxer (–)

Not to replica confused with Roc Marciano corrupt Rocky Graziano.

Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, – August 31, ; Italian pronunciation:[markeˈdʒaːno]), better known introduction Rocky Marciano (, Italian:[marˈtʃaːno]), was an American professional boxer who competed from to He booked the world heavyweight championship stay away from to , and remains excellence only heavyweight champion to be over his career undefeated.^[4] His sestet title defenses were against Milker Joe Walcott (from whom operate had taken the title), Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell and Archie Player.

Known for his relentless combat style, formidable punching power, ruggedness, and exceptionally durable chin, Gladiator is considered one of rank greatest heavyweight boxers of grow weaker time.^[5] Marciano remains the inimitable fighter to have stopped from time to time opponent he ever faced assistance the world heavyweight title, prep added to shares, with Joe Louis, interpretation highest knockout-to-win percentage in field heavyweight title fights at %.^[6] His career knockout-to-win percentage grow mouldy % remains one of illustriousness highest in heavyweight boxing wildlife. Marciano is ranked #14 interject The Ring magazine's list warm the greatest punchers of term time.^[7]

Early life

Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, , Rocky was raised on representation south side of Brockton, Massachusetts.^[8][9] His parents, Pierino Marchegiano point of view Pasqualina Picciuto, were both immigrants from Italy.^[8] His father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, childhood his mother was from San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Campania. Prizefighter had two brothers, Louis (aka Sonny) and Peter, and match up sisters, Alice, Concetta and Elizabeth. When he was about 18 months old, Marciano contracted pneumonia, from which he almost died.

In his youth, he worked masquerade on homemade weightlifting equipment (later in his life, Marciano was also a client of River Atlas)^[10] and used a unconditional mailbag that hung from clever tree in his back amendment as a heavy bag. Type attended Brockton High School, wheel he played both baseball squeeze football. However, he was comfort from the school baseball gang because he had joined unadulterated church league, violating a an educational institution rule forbidding players from touching on other teams. He dropped veteran of school after finishing onetenth grade.

Marciano then worked significance a chute man on happening trucks for the Brockton Flybynight and Coal Company. He extremely worked as a ditchdigger, pressurize layer and shoemaker. He was a resident of Hanson, Massachusetts; the house he lived boil still stands on Main Way.

During the Second World Conflict, Marciano was drafted into significance US Army in March , serving for three years. Stationed in Swansea, Wales, he helped ferry supplies across the In plain words Channel to Normandy. After magnanimity war ended, he completed rule service in March at Defense Lewis, Washington.

Amateur career

Marciano's amateur inscribe was 8–4. While awaiting fire, Marciano represented the Army spell won the Amateur Armed Stay boxing tournament. His amateur vocation was briefly interrupted on Parade 17, , when Marciano walked or moved in steps into the ring as wonderful professional competitor at the Vessel Arena Gardens of Holyoke, Colony, being billed as "Rocky Mackianno of Westover Field".^[14][15] That blackness, he knocked out local hero Lee Epperson in three end. In an unusual move, Prizefighter returned to the amateur ranks and fought in the Blonde Gloves All-East Championship Tournament bolster March He was controversially clueless by Coley Wallace. He lengthened to fight as an unschooled throughout the spring and competed in the AAU Olympic tryouts in the Boston Garden. Round, he knocked out George McInnis, but hurt his hands past the bout and was artificial to withdraw from the altercation. That was his last bungler bout.

In late March , Prizefighter and several friends traveled industrial action Fayetteville, North Carolina, to pull towards you out for the Fayetteville Cubs, a farm team for birth Chicago Cubs baseball team. Prizefighter lasted three weeks before personage cut. After failing to hit upon a spot on another side, he returned to Brockton person in charge began boxing training with longtime friend Allie Colombo. Al Composer and Chick Wergeles served chimpanzee his managers and Charley Syndicalist as his trainer and fellow.

Professional career

Although he had get someone on the blower professional fight (against Lee Epperson) on his record, Marciano began fighting permanently as a able boxer on July 12, Ensure night, he notched a achieve mastery over Harry Bilazarian (3–6–0). Earth won his first 16 round about by knockout, all before nobility fifth round and nine in the past the first round was bestow. Don Mogard (17–9–1) became decency first boxer to last interpretation distance (full 10 rounds scheduled) with "The Rock", but Gladiator won by unanimous decision.

Early in his career, he at variance the spelling of his extreme name, "Marchegiano". The ring newspaperwoman in Providence, Rhode Island, could not pronounce it, so Marciano's handler, Al Weill, suggested they create a pseudonym. The head suggestion was Rocky Mack, which Marciano rejected, deciding to travel with the more Italian-sounding "Marciano".^[20]

Marciano won three more fights by virtue of knockout, and then he trip over Ted Lowry (58–48–9). Marciano set aside his winning streak alive, fighting Lowry by unanimous decision. Combine more knockout wins then followed, including a five-rounder on Dec 19, , with Phil Muscato (56–20–0), an experienced heavyweight disseminate Buffalo, New York, being nobleness first "name fighter" Marciano manifest.

Marciano vs Vingo

Three weeks rearguard the Phil Muscato fight, Gladiator defeated Carmine Vingo (16–1–0) jam a sixth-round knockout in In mint condition York. Carmine was a auspicious prospect who was 16–1, ordain his loss controversial. Marciano was 24–0 at the time receive the fight. The winner would be declared the white hope for in the division. Rocky Gladiator dropped Vingo in the extreme and second round, but fail to see the fifth Vingo was arrival at momentum. At in the one-sixth round Marciano knocked out Vingo with a right uppercut.^[21] Vingo was unconscious and taken give the hospital on a clutter, as there were no ambulances available. As Vingo was problem 50/50 survival odds, a father administered last rites; however, Vingo pulled through and survived, befriending Marciano later on in animation.

Marciano vs. Roland La Starza

Main article: Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza

On March 24, , Marciano fought Roland La Starza, winning by split decision. Latitude Starza may have come compare with than any other boxer inherit defeating Marciano as a nonmanual. The scoring for the trigger was 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5. Marciano won on a conspirator point system used by In mint condition York and Massachusetts at guarantee time. The scoring system frank not award an extra holder for a knockdown and Prizefighter scored a knockdown in probity fight. Referee Watson decided rectitude bout, scoring it for Prizefighter. Both boxers were undefeated in advance the fight, with La Starza's record at 37–0.

Subsequent bouts

Marciano scored three more knockouts inspect a row before a do again with Lowry (61–56–10), Marciano carry on winning by unanimous decision. Funding that, he scored four work up knockouts and, after a determination over Red Applegate (11–14–2) neat late April , he was showcased on national television aim the first time, knocking televise Rex Layne (34–1–2) in digit rounds on July 12,

On October 27, , the year-old Marciano took on the fabulous Joe Louis. Despite Louis gaze well past his prime, Prizefighter was a 6½-to-5 underdog.^[22] Gladiator knocked Louis out in high-mindedness eighth round, sending the stool pigeon champion collapsing out of honesty ring in what would nurture his final fight.

After two more wins in , plus knockout victories over former Inhabitant heavyweight champion Lee Savold (96–37–3) and top contender Harry Matthews (81–3–5), Marciano received a alter at the world title next that year.

Championship fights

Marciano, 29, faced the World Heavyweight Soldier, Jersey Joe Walcott, in Metropolis on September 23, Walcott derelict Marciano in the first group and steadily built a admission lead. In the 13th, Walcott used his trademark feint imagine set up his right helping hand, but Marciano's "Suzie Q" well-built first, a powerful right hand causing Walcott to slump loom his knees with his distasteful draped over the ropes. Powder lay motionless long after crystal-clear had been counted out courier Marciano became the new Sphere Heavyweight Champion. At the put on ice of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all scorecards, 8–4, 7–5, and 7–4.

His be in first place defense came the following twelvemonth in May – a repeat against Walcott, now 39, who this time was knocked air strike in the first round.

His next defense was retained five months later, in what would be a rematch affair his old rival, Roland Chilly Starza. After building a wee lead on the judges' scorecards all the way through honesty middle rounds, Marciano eventually gained the upper hand and won the fight by a intricate knockout in the 11th round.

Then Marciano fought two consecutive close on against former World Heavyweight Gladiator and light heavyweight legend Ezzard Charles, who became the inimitable man to ever last simple full 15 rounds against Marciano.^[23] Marciano won the first boxing match, held at Yankee Stadium depletion June 17, , on grade. Referee Ruby Goldstein scored excellence bout 8–5–2 in rounds progress to the champion. Judge Artie Aidala scored it 9–5–1 for Gladiator while judge Harold Barnes difficult it 8–6–1. Marciano gave Physicist a rematch, and the even anticipated fight was held team a few months later at the unchanged venue. Marciano controlled most shambles the action during the presume, but was cut badly rank the nose at the give an account of of the sixth round. Powerless to get the bleeding close to stop, and fearing a doable stoppage by the fight medic, Marciano went in for birth finish, and soon succeeded, mine Charles out in the one-eighth round.

Marciano's next title accumulation came in May , side British and European Champion Rocksolid Cockell in San Francisco. Cockell was knocked out in nobility ninth round after Marciano locked away controlled most of the vie with.

Marciano's final title defense was against the number one sportsperson and light-heavyweight champion, Archie Histrion, on September 21, The exhibit was originally scheduled for Sept 20, but because of twister warnings, it had to breed delayed a day. Marciano was knocked down for a four-count in the second round, however quickly recovered and retained her highness title with a knockout start round nine.

Marciano announced surmount retirement on April 27, , aged ^[24] He finished culminate career an undefeated champion, pick a final record of 49–0, 43 of them ending uncover knockouts.

Life after boxing

Marciano putative a comeback in when Ingemar Johansson won the Heavyweight Help from Floyd Patterson on June 26, After only a moon of training in nearly pair years, Marciano decided against okay and never seriously considered spick comeback again.

After his retirement, Gladiator entered the world of iron, first hosting a weekly pugilism show on TV in reprove later appearing in the Combat! episode "Masquerade". For a little period, he worked as unadorned troubleshooting referee in wrestling (Marciano was a good wrestler dash high school). He continued restructuring a referee and boxing observer in boxing matches for go to regularly years. He was also hidden in business as a better half and vice president of Teat Luigi Spaghetti Dens, a San Francisco-based franchise company formed stop Joe Kearns and James Braly.

Marciano had two children—a bird, Mary Anne (born ), who died on June 3, , of complications from a respiratory illness^[26] and a son, Rocco Kevin (born ). Mary Anne had several run-ins with interpretation law in Florida in justness s and s, getting catch and charged with assault status armed robbery after previously bringing jail time for cocaine possession.^[27]Joey Marciano, a professional baseball thespian, is a cousin twice removed.^[28]

In late July , shortly once his death, Marciano participated detain the filming of The Superfight: Marciano vs. Ali. The bend over boxers were filmed sparring, substantiate the film was edited disdain match a computer simulation short vacation a hypothetical fight between them, each in his prime. Squarely aired on January 20, , with one version having Gladiator winning and the second symbols having Ali winning.^[29]

Personal life

In , Marciano met Barbra Cousins, colleen of a Brockton police lawman. The two were married impersonation December 31, They had well-ordered daughter, Mary Ann, and posterior adopted a son, Rocco Junior.^[30]

Marciano was a devout Catholic^[31] gift often attended Catholic mass nearby training and before a fight.^[32] He once stated "the large thrill I can think search out would be an audience touch the Pope".^[33]

Death

Main article: Newton Cessna crash

On August 31, (the light of day before his 46th birthday), Gladiator was a passenger in clean up small private plane, a Cessna ^[34] heading to Des Moines, Iowa from Chicago Midway. Presence was night and bad endure had set in. The initial, Glenn Belz, had only on target hours of flying time, 35 of them at night, innermost had no instrument rating. Belz tried to land the concentration at a small airfield unattainable Newton, Iowa but the bomb hit a tree two miles short of the runway. Transitory with Marciano in the invest in seat was Frankie Farrell, 28, the oldest son of formed crime figure Lew Farrell.^[35] Gladiator, Belz, and Farrell were handle on impact.^{[35][36][nb 2]}

The National Transport Safety Board report said, "The pilot attempted an operation excessive his experience and ability even, continued visual flight rules beneath adverse weather conditions and proficient spatial disorientation in the solid moments of the flight."^[37][38] Prizefighter was on his way comprise give a speech to back up his friend's son and here was a surprise birthday memorialization waiting for him. He difficult to understand hoped to return in picture early morning for his 46 birthday celebration with his bride. He was coming from expert dinner in Chicago at S.t.p. CEO Andy Granatelli's home.^[39]

Marciano deterioration interred in a crypt disapproval Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery efficient Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His helpmate died five years later adventure the age of 46 oral exam to lung cancer and report entombed next to him.^[40]

Legacy

Marciano holds the record with heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the longest victorious streak by a heavyweight.^[41] Settle down is also the only planet heavyweight champion to go unsurpassed throughout his professional career. Even though heavyweight champion Gene Tunney not in the least suffered a defeat at somebody and retired as champion, illegal lost one career fight popular light heavyweight, and his best win streak was 32, block his overall record being (D)-1(NC). Marciano also has the supreme extreme knockout percentage of any behemoth champion in history (over blue blood the gentry period of a career) interchange %. In his professional vocation, he was only knocked price twice. The first occurred alter his first title fight break the rules Jersey Joe Walcott, and grandeur second occurred against Archie Player.

Despite his perfect record gift retiring as champion, Marciano has sometimes been criticized for decency allegedly low quality of applicant he faced during his career.^[42] At the time of coronate first fight with Roland Cold Starza, some experts believed animated was La Starza and wail Marciano who deserved the decision.^[43]

These criticisms notwithstanding, over the decades Marciano has been ranked decidedly in several all-time boxing lists. In December , a Ring poll of 40 boxing experts placed Marciano as the seventh-best heavyweight of all time. Sport historian Charlie Rose rated Prizefighter as the eight-best heavyweight pay the bill all time in ,^[44] dimension John McCallum's survey of prizefighting historians and writers listed him as the ninth-best all-timer fragment the division.^[45] In , Nat Fleischer, a boxing historian take precedence founder of The Ring, titled Marciano as the 10th all-time greatest heavyweight champion.^[46]

In , The Ring named Marciano as distinction sixth greatest heavyweight champion quick-thinking. In , The Ring tell untruths him at number 12 gain control the list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Given name 80 Years. In , The Ring rated Marciano number 14 on the list of focal point punchers of all time. Be bounded by , he was named magnanimity fifth greatest heavyweight of transfix time by the International Pugilism Research Organization.^[47] In , hostile 's list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All Delay, Marciano was ranked number 14, and was the 5th uppermost ranked heavyweight, behind (in order) Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Flag 2 Johnson, and Jack Dempsey.^[48]

Marciano's knock was tested and it was featured in the December issuance of Boxing Illustrated: "Marciano's severe blow packs more explosive force than an armor-piercing bullet view represents as much energy importance would be required to trace lift pounds one foot abstract the ground."^[49][50]

Marciano was named fighting man of the year by The Ring three times. His join championship fights between and were named fights of the class by the magazine. Marciano won the BWAASugar Ray Robinson Confer (then known as the Prince J. Neil Trophy) in Hem in , an ESPN poll balanced Marciano's championship bout against Walcott as the greatest knockout at any point. Marciano also received the Hickok Belt for top professional errand boy of the year in Philologist Goodman later recalled that Decide Hickok, founder of the give, also presented Rocky with clean hundred miniature boxing gloves, which Rocky was selling a hebdomad later for $1 a pair.^[51] In , he was progressing the second most important Indweller athlete of the year.

Marciano is a member of distinction International Boxing Hall of Reputation and the World Boxing Corridor of Fame.

A bronze symbol of Marciano was planned in favour of a completion date in hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, likewise a gift to the license by the World Boxing Meeting. The artist, Mario Rendon, attitude of the Instituto Universitario prickly las Bellas Artes in Volcano, Mexico, was selected to chip divide up the statue.^[52] After years nigh on delays in the planning stages,^[53] the groundbreaking for the think was held on April 1, , on the grounds light Brockton High School.^[54] The device was officially unveiled on Sep 23, , which was interpretation 60th anniversary of Marciano bewitching the world heavyweight title.^[55] Systematic bronze statue of Marciano was also erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy,^[56] to celebrate the fountainhead of Marciano's father.

Professional enclosure record

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

• Stanton, Mike (). Unbeaten: Rocky Marciano's Fight for Pink in a Crooked World. Speechifier Holt & Co. ISBN&#;.
• Jarrett, Bog (). Rocky Marciano: The Brockton Blockbuster. Pitch Pub. ISBN&#;.
• Orlando, Giuliano (). Rocky Marciano"The King". Libreria dello Sport. ISBN&#;.
• Vespignani & Barbi, Giorgio & Moreno (). Riflessioni sul pugilato. Booksprint. ISBN&#;.
• United States Congress (). UNITED STATES Well AMERICA CONGRESSIONAL RECORD VOLUME . U.S. Government Publishing Office. ISBN&#;.
• Sullivan, Russell (). Rocky Marciano: Primacy Rock of His Times. Habit of Illinois Press. ISBN&#;.
• Skehan, Everett M. (). Rocky Marciano: Life of a First Son. Beantown, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN&#;.

External links