BOXING LEGEND 2

ROCKY MARCIANO
Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, 1923 August 31, 1969), best known as Rocky
Marciano, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955, and held the
world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. He went undefeated in his career and defended the title
six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don
Cockell and Archie Moore.
Known for his relentless fighting style, punching power, stamina and iron chin, Marciano has been
ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. His knockout-
to-win percentage of 87.75 remains one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history.

Early life
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 18 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 homemade weightlifting equipment (later in his life, Marciano was also a
client of Charles Atlas) 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, railroad layer and 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 United States 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.

Amateur career
Marciano's amateur record was 84. While awaiting discharge, Marciano, representing the army,
won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament. His amateur career was briefly 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. 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.
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.[16]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
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 (360). He won his first 16 bouts by knockout, all before the fifth round, and nine
before the first round was over. Don Mogard (1791) 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: [markedano]). 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"(/mrsino/, Italian pronunciation: [martano]).
Marciano won three more fights by knockout and then he met Ted Lowry (58489). 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 (56200), an
experienced heavyweight from Buffalo, New York, and the first "name fighter" Marciano faced. Three
weeks after that fight, Marciano beat Carmine Vingo (1610) by a fifth-round knockout in New York
that almost killed Vingo.

Marciano vs. La Starza

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 54, 45, and 55. 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 for Marciano.
Both boxers were undefeated before the fight, with La Starza's record at 370.

Subsequent bouts
Marciano won three more knockouts in a row before a rematch with Lowry (615610), which
Marciano again won by unanimous decision. After that, he won four more by knockout, and, after a
decision over Red Applegate (11142) in late April 1951, he was showcased on national television
for the first time, when he knocked out Rex Layne (3412) in six rounds on July 12, 1951.
On October 27, 1951, the 28-year-old Marciano took on the 37-year-old Joe Louis. Coming into the
bout, Marciano was a 6-to-5 underdog.[18] Marciano upset Louis in what was the latter's last career
bout.
After four more wins, including victories over 35-year-old Lee Savold (96373) and Harry Matthews
(8135), Marciano received an opportunity to win the title.

Championship fights
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. In the 13th, 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 HeavyweightChampion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was
leading on all scorecards 84, 75, and 74.
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 11th 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 15 rounds against
Marciano. 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.[20] He finished his career at 490.