A True Legend - Rocco Francis Marchegiano

“I got a guy who’s short, stoop shouldered and balding with two left feet. They all look better than he does as far as the moves are concerned, but they don’t look so good on the canvas. God, how he can punch.”

These words came from the trainer of one of the best professional heavyweight boxers ever to step onto the ring.

Rocky Marciano retired from professional boxing on April 27, 1956, with an incredible record of 49-0. He remains the only Heavyweight champion in boxing history to say goodbye to the game having won each and every fight in his professional carrier.

Another astonishing fact is that Marciano had forty-three knockouts to his credit (almost 87 % knockout rate). Boasting of his ability to complete a match before ten rounds, he stated:

“Why waltz with a guy for ten rounds, if you can knock him in one?”

Rocky Marciano was born as Rocco Francis Marchegiano on 1 September, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts. His father, Pierino Marchegiano, worked at a shoe factory. His mother’s name was Pasqualina Picciuto. Both his parents were immigrants from Italy.

As a youngster, Rocky played football and baseball for his school team and dreamt of a professional career in any of them. In 1943, he was drafted into the army and served for two years. During that time he took up boxing seriously. He used a stuffed mail bag that hung from a tree in his back yard as a heavy bag, and he practiced hard.

As an amateur, Marciano won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament, representing the army. His amateur record ended in 8-4.

On 17 March, 1947, Marciano debuted as a professional competitor. In his first match he knocked out Lee Epperson in only three rounds. Another interesting fact is that he won his first sixteen bouts by knockout, all before the fifth round and nine even before the end of the first round.

On 26 October, 1951 he had to fight Joe Louis, perhaps his most formidable opponent and former Heavyweight champion. Louis was past his prime. When a reporter asked him if he thought he would win his upcoming fight against Joe Louis, he replied:

“That was a f*****g dumb question. If I didn’t think I was gonna win, why the hell would I be fighting?”

Louis was knocked out in the eighth round in the match.

Marciano faced the then World Heavyweight champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, and it was his first chance to go for the belt. The fight took place in the Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia on 23 September, 1952. During the match, Marciano was behind on points and struggled the whole night. Walcott was leading on all scoreboards, 8-4, 7-5 and 7-4. But in the thirteenth round Marciano made a comeback and with a short, overhand right to the jaw, left Walcott unconscious. Marciano won the champion’s belt for the first time that night. He had to defend his title for six times, the first one of which came a year later. It was a rematch against Walcott, and this time Walcott was knocked out in the very first round.

His last title bout was against Archie Moore on 21 September, 1955. Marciano was knocked down for a four count in the second round, but soon recovered and was able to retain his title with a knockout in the ninth round. Marciano ended his successful carrier on 27 April, 1956.

In 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday, Marciano was killed in a plane crush at a small airfield outside Newton, Iowa. He holds the record with Heavyweight champion Brian Nielsen for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight. Marciano is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.