Rocky Marciano
"Brockton Blockbuster"
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- Birth Name: Rocco Francis Marchegiano
- Birth Place: Contribute
- Born: September 01, 1923
- Died: Contribute
- Age: 100
- Height: 5′ 10½″
- Weight: Contribute
- Reach: 68″
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro Debut: July 12, 1948
- Nationality: USA
- Status: Inactive
- Manager: Contribute
- Promoter: Contribute
- Total Bouts: 49
- Total Rounds: 241
Rocky Marciano is one of the greatest boxers in history, with an incredible career that spanned from 1947 to 1955. During that time, he participated in 49 professional boxing matches, winning all of them, with no losses or draws recorded. In this article, we will explore his life, career, highlight fights, and legacy.
Rocky Marciano was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts. He grew up in a poor family and had to work hard to make ends meet. In his youth, he played baseball and football, but he was always most interested in boxing.
At the age of 18, he was drafted into the US Army and served in World War II as a combat infantryman. After his service, he began his professional boxing career in 1947 at the age of 23, making his debut against Lee Epperson. He won the fight via 3rd round KO, setting the tone for the rest of his career.
Throughout his boxing career, Marciano exhibited phenomenal skill, strength, and determination, becoming an unstoppable force in the ring. He won 43 of his 49 fights by knockout, never losing a single bout. He holds the record for the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, a testament to his prowess as a fighter.
Marciano became the heavyweight champion of the world on September 23, 1952, after defeating Jersey Joe Walcott for the NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring titles, winning via 13th round KO. He would go on to win two more world titles, cementing his place as one of the greatest boxers in history.
In his career, Marciano defeated four Hall-of-Famers, including Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Joe Louis, making him one of the few boxers to beat that many legendary fighters. He also had notable victories over Roland La Starza, Don Cockell, and Lee Savold.
One of the highlights of Marciano's career was his fight against Joe Louis on October 26, 1951. Louis, one of the most famous boxers in history and a future Hall-of-Famer, was near the end of his career at the time, but he still possessed plenty of power and skill. Marciano put on an incredible performance, defeating Louis via 8th round TKO. It was a remarkable achievement for Marciano—beating a legendary boxer like Joe Louis was a great accomplishment.
Another notable fight in Marciano's career was his rematch against Ezzard Charles on September 17, 1954, where he successfully defended the NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles. Marciano won the fight via 8th round KO, displaying immense strength and endurance throughout the bout.
Marciano retired from professional boxing with an undefeated record of 49-0, including 43 knockout wins and one title win, which is a remarkable achievement in itself. In 1990, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as one of the greatest boxers in history.
Marciano had a unique fighting style that made him stand out from other boxers. He was known for his incredible punching power and stamina, as well as his ability to take a punch without getting knocked down. He was also a master at reading his opponents and finding their weaknesses, which gave him an edge in the ring.
Despite his success, Marciano faced many challenges in his life. He struggled with depression, anxiety, and alcoholism, which eventually led to his untimely death. On August 31, 1969, he died in a plane crash, leaving a void in the boxing community and a legacy that will never be forgotten.
In conclusion, Rocky Marciano is one of the greatest boxers in history, with an incredible record of 49-0, including 43 knockout wins. He won three world titles during his career, defeating legendary boxers like Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, and Jersey Joe Walcott. His unique fighting style and determination to win made him a force to be reckoned with in the ring, and his legacy continues to inspire boxers and fans alike. Although he faced many personal challenges, his success and impact on the sport of boxing will never be forgotten.
Rocky Marciano Fight Record
# | Date | Age | Opponent | Result | Via |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49 | Sep 21, 1955 | 32 | Archie Moore | Win | KO9 |
48 | May 16, 1955 | 31 | Don Cockell | Win | TKO9 |
47 | Sep 17, 1954 | 31 | Ezzard Charles | Win | KO8 |
46 | Jun 17, 1954 | 30 | Ezzard Charles | Win | UD |
45 | Sep 24, 1953 | 30 | Roland La Starza | Win | TKO11 |
44 | May 15, 1953 | 29 | Jersey Joe Walcott | Win | KO1 |
43 | Sep 23, 1952 | 29 | Jersey Joe Walcott | Win | KO13 |
42 | Jul 28, 1952 | 28 | Harry Matthews | Win | KO2 |
41 | May 12, 1952 | 28 | Bernie Reynolds | Win | KO3 |
40 | Apr 21, 1952 | 28 | Gino Buonvino | Win | KO2 |
39 | Feb 13, 1952 | 28 | Lee Savold | Win | RTD6 |
38 | Oct 26, 1951 | 28 | Joe Louis | Win | TKO8 |
37 | Aug 27, 1951 | 27 | Freddie Beshore | Win | KO4 |
36 | Jul 12, 1951 | 27 | Rex Layne | Win | KO6 |
35 | Apr 30, 1951 | 27 | Willis Applegate | Win | UD |
34 | Mar 26, 1951 | 27 | Art Henri | Win | TKO9 |
33 | Mar 20, 1951 | 27 | Harold Mitchell | Win | TKO2 |
32 | Jan 29, 1951 | 27 | Keene Simmons | Win | TKO8 |
31 | Dec 18, 1950 | 27 | Bill Wilson | Win | TKO1 |
30 | Nov 13, 1950 | 27 | Ted Lowry | Win | UD |
29 | Sep 18, 1950 | 27 | Johnny Shkor | Win | TKO6 |
28 | Jul 10, 1950 | 26 | Gino Buonvino | Win | TKO10 |
27 | Jun 5, 1950 | 26 | Eldridge Eatman | Win | TKO3 |
26 | Mar 24, 1950 | 26 | Roland La Starza | Win | SD |
25 | Dec 30, 1949 | 26 | Carmine Vingo | Win | KO6 |
24 | Dec 19, 1949 | 26 | Phil Muscato | Win | TKO5 |
23 | Dec 2, 1949 | 26 | Pat Richards | Win | TKO2 |
22 | Nov 7, 1949 | 26 | Joe Dominic | Win | KO2 |
21 | Oct 10, 1949 | 26 | Ted Lowry | Win | UD |
20 | Sep 26, 1949 | 26 | Tommy DiGiorgio | Win | KO4 |
19 | Aug 16, 1949 | 25 | Pete Louthis | Win | KO3 |
18 | Jul 18, 1949 | 25 | Harry Haft | Win | KO3 |
17 | May 23, 1949 | 25 | Don Mogard | Win | UD |
16 | May 2, 1949 | 25 | Jimmy Evans | Win | TKO3 |
15 | Apr 11, 1949 | 25 | Jimmy Walls | Win | KO3 |
14 | Mar 28, 1949 | 25 | Artie Donato | Win | KO1 |
13 | Mar 21, 1949 | 25 | Johnny Pretzie | Win | TKO5 |
12 | Dec 14, 1948 | 25 | Gilley Ferron | Win | TKO2 |
11 | Nov 29, 1948 | 25 | James Patrick Connolly | Win | TKO1 |
10 | Oct 4, 1948 | 25 | Bob Jefferson | Win | TKO2 |
9 | Sep 30, 1948 | 25 | Gilbert Cardone | Win | KO1 |
8 | Sep 20, 1948 | 25 | Bill Hardeman | Win | KO1 |
7 | Sep 13, 1948 | 25 | Humphrey Jackson | Win | KO1 |
6 | Aug 30, 1948 | 24 | Jimmy Weeks | Win | TKO1 |
5 | Aug 23, 1948 | 24 | Eddie Ross | Win | KO1 |
4 | Aug 9, 1948 | 24 | Bobby Quinn | Win | KO3 |
3 | Jul 19, 1948 | 24 | John Edwards | Win | KO1 |
2 | Jul 12, 1948 | 24 | Harry Bilazarian | Win | TKO1 |
1 | Mar 17, 1947 | 23 | Lee Epperson | Win | KO3 |