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Rocky Marciano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Roc Marciano or Rocky Graziano.

Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano Postcard 1953.jpg
Rocky Marciano, c. 1953
Statistics
Real nameRocco Francis Marchegiano
Nickname(s)
  • The Brockton Blockbuster
  • The Rock from Brockton
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (179 cm)[1][nb 1]
Reach68 in (173 cm)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Born(1923-09-01)September 1, 1923
Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedAugust 31, 1969(1969-08-31) (aged 45)
Newton, Iowa, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights49
Wins49
Wins by KO43
Losses0

Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969; Italian pronunciation: [markeˈdʒaːno]), better known as Rocky Marciano (/mɑːrsiˈɑːnoʊ/, Italian: [marˈtʃaːno]), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955, and held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. He is the only heavyweight champion to have finished his career undefeated.[2] His six title defenses were against Jersey Joe Walcott (from whom he had taken the title), Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell and Archie Moore.

Known for his relentless fighting style, formidable punching power, stamina, and exceptionally durable chin, Marciano is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Marciano remains the only fighter to have stopped every opponent he ever faced for the world heavyweight title, and holds the highest knockout-to-win ratio in world heavyweight title fights at 85.7%.[nb 2][14] His career knockout-to-win percentage of 87.8% remains one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history. Marciano is ranked #14 in The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.[15]

Early life

Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano,[16] he was raised on the south side of Brockton, Massachusetts,[17] to Pierino Marchegiano and Pasqualina Picciuto. Both of his parents were immigrants from Italy.[16] His father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, while his mother was from San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Campania. Rocky had two brothers, Louis (aka Sonny) and Peter, 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 worked out on homemade weightlifting equipment (later in his life, Marciano was also a client of Charles Atlas)[18] 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 ditchdigger, railroad layer[19] and shoemaker. He was 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.[20]

Amateur career

Marciano's amateur record was 8–4.[21] While awaiting discharge, Marciano represented the Army and 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 at the Valley Arena Gardens of Holyoke, Massachusetts, being billed as "Rocky Mackianno of Westover Field".[22][23] That night, he knocked out local fighter 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 controversially beaten by Coley Wallace.[24] 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.[25]

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.[26] 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 Bilazarian (3–6–0). He won his first 16 bouts by knockout, all before the fifth round and nine before the first round was over. Don Mogard (17–9–1) 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". The ring announcer in Providence, Rhode Island, could not pronounce it, so Marciano's handler, Al Weill, suggested they create a pseudonym. The first suggestion was Rocky Mack, which Marciano rejected, deciding to go with the more Italian-sounding "Marciano".[27]

Marciano won three more fights by knockout, and then he met Ted Lowry (58–48–9). Marciano kept his winning streak alive, beating Lowry by unanimous decision. Four more knockout wins then followed, including a five-rounder on December 19, 1949, with Phil Muscato (56–20–0), an experienced heavyweight from Buffalo, New York, being the first "name fighter" Marciano faced.

Marciano vs Vingo

Three weeks after the Phil Muscato fight, Marciano fought Carmine Vingo (16–1–0) by a sixth-round knockout in New York. Carmine was a promising prospect who was 16-1, with his loss controversial. Marciano was 24-0 at the time of the fight. The winner would be declared the white hope in the division. Rocky Marciano dropped Vingo in the first and second round, but by the fifth Vingo was gaining momentum. At 1:46 in the sixth round Marciano knocked out Vingo with a right uppercut.[28] Vingo was unconscious and taken to the hospital on a stretcher, as there were no ambulances available. Vingo was given his final rites by a priest and had 50/50 odds to survive. Vingo pulled through and survived, befriending Marciano later on in life.

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 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5. 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 37–0.

Subsequent bouts

Marciano scored three more knockouts in a row before a rematch with Lowry (61–56–10), Marciano again winning by unanimous decision. After that, he scored four more knockouts and, after a decision over Red Applegate (11–14–2) in late April 1951, he was showcased on national television for the first time, knocking out Rex Layne (34–1–2) 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 6½-to-5 underdog.[29] Marciano upset Louis in the latter's last career bout.

After four more wins, including victories over 35-year-old Lee Savold (96–37–3) and Harry Matthews (81–3–5), Marciano received a shot at the world title.

Championship fights

Marciano in 1954

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, a powerful right hook causing Walcott to slump 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 Heavyweight Champion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all scorecards, 8–4, 7–5, and 7–4.

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 through 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.[30] Marciano won the first fight, held at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 1954, on points. Referee Ruby Goldstein scored the bout 8-5-2 in rounds for the champion. Judge Artie Aidala scored it 9-5-1 for Marciano while judge Harold Barnes had it 8-6-1. Marciano won the return fight 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.[31] He finished his career at 49–0.

Life after boxing

Marciano considered a comeback in 1959 when Ingemar Johansson won the Heavyweight Championship from Floyd Patterson on June 26, 1959. After only a month of training in nearly four years, Marciano decided against it and never seriously considered a comeback again.[32]

After his retirement, Marciano entered the world of television, first hosting a weekly boxing show on TV in 1961 and later appearing in the Combat! episode "Masquerade". For a brief period, he worked as a troubleshooting referee in wrestling (Marciano was a good wrestler in high school). He continued as a referee and boxing commentator in boxing matches for many years. He was also active in business as a partner and vice president of Papa Luigi Spaghetti Dens, a San Francisco-based franchise company formed by Joe Kearns and James Braly. He built a custom home at 641 NW 24 Street in Wilton Manors, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The house still stands as of 2018.

In late July 1969, shortly before his death, Marciano participated in the filming of The Superfight: Marciano vs. Ali. The two boxers were filmed sparring, then the film was edited to match a computer simulation of a hypothetical fight between them, each in his prime. It aired on January 20, 1970, with one version having Marciano winning and the second version having Ali winning.[33]

Death

Main article: 1969 Newton Cessna 172 crash

On August 31, 1969 (the day before his 46th birthday), Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane, a Cessna 172[34] heading to Des Moines, Iowa. It was night time and bad weather had set in. The pilot, Glenn Belz, had 231 total hours of flying time, 35 of them at night, and had no instrument rating. Belz tried to land the plane at a small airfield outside Newton, Iowa but the aircraft hit a tree two miles short of the runway. Flying with Marciano in the back seat was Frankie Farrell, 28, the oldest son of organized crime figure Lew Farrell.[35] Marciano, Belz and Farrell were killed on impact.[35][36][nb 3]

The National Transportation Safety Board report said, "The pilot attempted an operation exceeding his experience and ability level, continued visual flight rules under adverse weather conditions and experienced spatial disorientation in the last moments of the flight."[37][38] Marciano was on his way to give a speech to support his friend's son and there was a surprise birthday celebration waiting for him. He had hoped to return in the early morning for his 46th birthday celebration with his wife. He was coming from a dinner in Chicago at STP CEO Andy Granatelli's home.[citation needed]

Marciano is interred in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His wife Barbara Marciano died five years later at the age of 46 due to lung cancer, and is entombed next to him.[39]

Legacy

Marciano with Boston Mayor John F. Collins (center-right) and singer Jimmy Durante (right), circa 1968

Marciano holds the record with heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight.[7] He is also the only world heavyweight champion to go undefeated throughout his professional career. Although heavyweight champion Gene Tunney never suffered a defeat at heavyweight and retired as champion, he lost one career fight at light heavyweight, and his longest win streak was 32, with his overall record being 82-1-4(D)-1(NC). Marciano also has the highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight champion in history (over the period of a career) with 87.76%. In his professional career, he was only knocked down twice. The first occurred in his first championship against Jersey Joe Walcott, 38, and the second occurred against 38 year-old Archie Moore.

Despite his perfect record and retiring as champion, Marciano is rarely (if ever) rated as the top heavyweight of all time. John Durant, author of The Heavyweight Champions, wrote in 1971 (p. 123): "Critics do not rate Rocky with the great ones, like Jeffries, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney and Louis. He never faced top fighters like they did. It was not Rocky's fault, of course, that there was a lack of talent when he was boxing. He fought them all and that is what a champion is supposed to do." Also in 1971, Nat Fleischer, a boxing historian and founder of The Ring, named Marciano as the 10th all-time greatest heavyweight champion.[40] Fleischer wrote that Marciano was "crude, wild swinging, awkward and missed heavily. In his bout with light heavyweight champion Archie Moore, for example, he missed almost two-thirds of the 50-odd punches he threw when he had Archie against the ropes, a perfect target for the kill."

In December 1962, a The Ring poll of 40 boxing experts had Jack Dempsey rated the number-one heavyweight of all time, with Joe Louis second, Jack Johnson third and Marciano seventh. Two boxing historians, Herb Goldman and Charley Rose, and John McCallum's Survey of Old Timers (survey of a group of historians and writers) rated Marciano at number seven, number eight and number nine, respectively, of the best heavyweights of all time.[41]

In 1998, The Ring named Marciano as the sixth greatest heavyweight champion ever. In 2002, The Ring placed Marciano at number 12 on the list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. In 2003, The Ring rated Marciano number 14 on the list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. In 2005, Marciano was named the fifth greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization.[42] In 2007, on ESPN.com's list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time, Marciano was ranked number 14, and was the 5th highest ranked heavyweight, behind (in order) Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson, and Jack Dempsey.[43]

Marciano's punch was tested and it was featured in the December 1963 issue of Boxing Illustrated: "Marciano's knockout blow packs more explosive energy than an armor-piercing bullet and represents as much energy as would be required to spot lift 1000 pounds one foot off the ground."[44][45]

Marciano was named fighter of the year by The Ring three times. His three championship fights between 1952 and 1954 were named fights of the year by the magazine. Marciano won the Sugar Ray Robinson Award in 1952. In 2006, an ESPN poll voted Marciano's 1952 championship bout against Walcott as the greatest knockout ever. Marciano also received the Hickok Belt for top professional athlete of the year in 1952. Murray Goodman later recalled that Ray Hickok, founder of the award, also presented Rocky with a hundred miniature boxing gloves, which Rocky was selling a week later for $1 a pair.[46] In 1955, he was voted the second most important American athlete of the year.

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

Marciano had two children—a daughter, Mary Anne (born 1952), who died on June 3, 2011, of complications from a respiratory illness[47] and a son, Rocco Kevin (born 1968). Mary Anne had several run-ins with the law in Florida in the 1980s and 1990s, getting arrested and charged with assault and armed robbery after previously serving jail time for cocaine possession.[48]

A bronze statue of Marciano was planned for a 2009 completion date in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, as a gift to the city by the World Boxing Council. The artist, Mario Rendon, head of the Instituto Universitario de las Bellas Artes in Colima, Mexico, was selected to sculpt the statue.[49] After years of delays in the planning stages,[50] the groundbreaking for the statue was held on April 1, 2012, on the grounds of Brockton High School.[51] The statue was officially unveiled on September 23, 2012, which was the 60th anniversary of Marciano winning the world heavyweight title.[52] A bronze statue of Marciano was also erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy,[53] to celebrate the birthplace of Marciano's father.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary hide
49 fights 49 wins 0 losses
By knockout 43 0
By decision 6 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
49 Win 49–0 United States Archie Moore KO 9 (15), 1:19 Sep 21, 1955 United States Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
48 Win 48–0 United Kingdom Don Cockell TKO 9 (15), 0:54 May 16, 1955 United States Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
47 Win 47–0 United States Ezzard Charles KO 8 (15), 2:36 Sep 17, 1954 United States Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
46 Win 46–0 United States Ezzard Charles UD 15 Jun 17, 1954 United States Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
45 Win 45–0 United States Roland La Starza TKO 11 (15) Sep 24, 1953 United States Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
44 Win 44–0 United States Jersey Joe Walcott KO 1 (15), 2:25 May 15, 1953 United States Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
43 Win 43–0 United States Jersey Joe Walcott KO 13 (15), 0:43 Sep 23, 1952 United States Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, The Ring heavyweight titles
42 Win 42–0 United States Harry Matthews KO 2 (10), 2:04 Jul 28, 1952 United States Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
41 Win 41–0 United States Bernie Reynolds KO 3 (10), 2:21 May 12, 1952 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
40 Win 40–0 Italy Gino Buonvino KO 2 (10), 1:35 Apr 21, 1952 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
39 Win 39–0 United States Lee Savold RTD 6 (10), 3:00 Feb 13, 1952 United States Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
38 Win 38–0 United States Joe Louis TKO 8 (10) Oct 26, 1951 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
37 Win 37–0 United States Freddie Beshore KO 4 (10), 0:50 Aug 27, 1951 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
36 Win 36–0 United States Rex Layne KO 6 (10), 0:35 Jul 12, 1951 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
35 Win 35–0 United States Willis Applegate UD 10 Apr 30, 1951 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
34 Win 34–0 United States Art Henri TKO 9 (10), 2:51 Mar 26, 1951 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
33 Win 33–0 United States Harold Mitchell TKO 2 (10), 2:45 Mar 20, 1951 United States Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
32 Win 32–0 United States Keene Simmons TKO 8 (10), 2:54 Jan 29, 1951 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
31 Win 31–0 United States Bill Wilson TKO 1 (10), 1:50 Dec 18, 1950 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
30 Win 30–0 United States Ted Lowry UD 10 Nov 13, 1950 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
29 Win 29–0 United States Johnny Shkor TKO 6 (10), 1:28 Sep 18, 1950 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
28 Win 28–0 Italy Gino Buonvino TKO 10 (10), 0:25 Jul 10, 1950 United States Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
27 Win 27–0 United States Eldridge Eatman TKO 3 (10) Jun 5, 1950 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
26 Win 26–0 United States Roland La Starza SD 10 Mar 24, 1950 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Win 25–0 United States Carmine Vingo KO 6 (10), 1:46 Dec 30, 1949 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 United States Phil Muscato TKO 5 (10), 1:15 Dec 19, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
23 Win 23–0 United States Pat Richards TKO 2 (8), 0:39 Dec 2, 1949 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 United States Joe Dominic KO 2 (10), 2:26 Nov 7, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 United States Ted Lowry UD 10 Oct 10, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 United States Tommy DiGiorgio KO 4 (10), 2:04 Sep 26, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 United States Pete Louthis KO 3 (10) Aug 16, 1949 United States New Page Arena, New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Polish People's Republic Harry Haft KO 3 (10), 2:21 Jul 18, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Canada Don Mogard UD 10 May 23, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 United States Jimmy Evans TKO 3 (10) May 2, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 United States Jimmy Walls KO 3 (10), 2:44 Apr 11, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 United States Artie Donato KO 1 (10), 0:33 Mar 28, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 United States Johnny Pretzie TKO 5 (10), 1:46 Mar 21, 1949 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 United States Gilley Ferron TKO 2 (6), 2:21 Dec 14, 1948 United States Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 United States James Patrick Connolly TKO 1 (8), 1:57 Nov 29, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 United States Bob Jefferson TKO 2 (6), 2:30 Oct 4, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 United States Gilbert Cardone KO 1 (4), 0:36 Sep 30, 1948 United States Uline Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
8 Win 8–0 United States Bill Hardeman KO 1 (6) Sep 20, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 United States Humphrey Jackson KO 1 (6), 1:08 Sep 13, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 United States Jimmy Weeks TKO 1 (6), 2:50 Aug 30, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Canada Eddie Ross KO 1 (6), 1:03 Aug 23, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 United States Bobby Quinn KO 3 (4), 0:22 Aug 9, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 United States John Edwards KO 1 (4), 1:19 Jul 19, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 United States Harry Bilazarian TKO 1 (4) Jul 12, 1948 United States Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 United States Lee Epperson KO 3 (4), 0:42 Mar 17, 1947 United States Valley Arena Gardens, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Sources vary on his height, with some listing him as 5 ft 10+1⁄4 in (1.78 m).[2]
  2. ^ Shared with Joe Louis.
  3. ^ When rescuers reached the crashed aircraft, they saw Marciano's body still strapped in a seat. Upon hearing what had happened, people in boxing remembered what was said about Stanley Ketchel after Ketchel had been shot dead: "Start counting ten over him. He'll get up."[36]

References

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Staff (August 13, 2017). "The secrets behind the legend of Rocky Marciano". Boxing News. Newsquest. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Schwartz, Larry. "Marciano glorified boxing". ESPN. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  3. ^
    • Bert Randolph Sugar & Teddy Atlas The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists Running Press, ISBN 0762441674
    • ESPN.com,All-Time Greatest Boxers
    • James B. Roberts & Alexander G.Skutt The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book, McBooks Press, ISBN 9781590131213
    • The Archive The Cyber Boxing Zone
    • Russell Sullivan Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times, Illinois Press, ISBN 9780252027635
    • International Boxing Research Organization heavyweight-rankings
    • International Boxing Hall Of Fame IBHOF Modern Inductees, Rocky Marciano
  4. ^ Armeld, Jason. "Boxing: The 10 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bill Caplan's 20 Greatest Heavyweights". ringtv.com. February 9, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Portis, Robert (March 7, 2020). "Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweights". The Fight City. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "The fans' top 5 greatest boxers of all time". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Riaz, Adnan (August 30, 2020). "Boxing's 50 Greatest Heavyweight Fighters Of All Time Have Been Revealed". Sport Bible. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Farley, Samuel (June 1, 2021). "Top 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time". Oddschecker. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "Ranking top 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time". Sportszion. September 8, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  11. ^ Aguilar, Matthew (May 16, 2020). "Matthew Aguilar: One guy's top 10 heavyweights of all time". El Paso Times. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Matthew Aguilar: One guy's top 10 heavyweights of all time". Sports Geeks. May 3, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Goodpaster, Mike (May 5, 2021). "Top-10 Heavyweights of All Time". Gruelling Truth. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "Highest Knockout-To-Win & Knockout-To-Beat-Opponent Percentage in World Heavyweight Title Fights". Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  15. ^ [1][dead link]
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Editors, Biography com. "Rocky Marciano". Biography. Retrieved August 2, 2021.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Casey Sherman & Dave Wedge: The Rocky Road of Peter Marciano. Boston, 2018,
  18. ^ "Charles Atlas: Muscle Man" by Jonathan Black, Smithsonian magazine, August 2009.
  19. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 32.
  20. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 39.
  21. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 73.
  22. ^ "Saint Paul and Tommy Hubert on Arena Card". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. March 17, 1947. p. 7.
  23. ^ Sullivan, Russell (2002). "Holyoke". Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. pp. 9–12. ISBN 9780252027635.
  24. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 69.
  25. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 70.
  26. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 66.
  27. ^ Fitzgerald, Ed (January 1953). "Rocky Marciano – The Blockbuster from Brockton". thesportgallery.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  28. ^ "Rocky Marciano vs. Carmine Vingo - BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  29. ^ Rocky Marchiano KO's Joe Louis. Eugene Register-Guard – October 26, 1951
  30. ^ Will Hammock (2010-06-05). "The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today." Gwinnett Daily Post
  31. ^ Mullan, Harry (1996). Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 81. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.
  32. ^ Skehan 1977, p. 257.
  33. ^ "Ali vs. Marciano: Who wins?". The Enterprise. September 1, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  34. ^ Fights and Flights... The Crash of Rocky Marciano's Cessna. Check-six.com (1969-08-31). Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b "Rocky Marciano". www.check-six.com.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b Jones, Ken; Smith, Chris (1990). Boxing The Champions. The Crowood Press. p. 51.
  37. ^ Thirty Fifth Anniversary Of The Death Of Rocky Marciano Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine. Eastsideboxing.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  38. ^ Rocky Marciano raised money for the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. [Archive] – Boxing Forum. Boxingscene.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  39. ^ "Rocky Marciano". www.check-six.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  40. ^ Nat Fleischer (September 1971). "Clay An All-Time Top 10? Definitely No!". The Ring Online. Archived from the original on January 13, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  41. ^ Heavyweight lists from 3 historical heavyweights. in Boxing History Forum. Boxinguniverse.yuku.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  42. ^ "All Time Rankings". International Boxing Research Organization. March 2005. Archived from the original on December 21, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  43. ^ Mulvaney, Kieran. "Who's the Greatest?". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  44. ^ A picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi. Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  45. ^ A further picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi. Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  46. ^ In this Corner – Boxing's Legendary Heavyweights (Documentary), HBO.
  47. ^ Papadopoulos, Maria. "Daughter of Brockton boxer Rocky Marciano dies at 58".
  48. ^ "Marciano's Daughter Hit In Losing Fights Drug Conviction Latest Blow For Woman Who Blames Herself".
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  50. ^ Papadopoulos, Maria. (2010-11-18) Brockton's Rocky Marciano Statue Committee wants meeting with World Boxing Council – Taunton, MA – Taunton Daily Gazette. Tauntongazette.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  51. ^ Brockton breaks ground for Rocky Marciano statue – Brockton, MA – The Enterprise. Enterprisenews.com (2012-04-01). Retrieved on 2012-08-09.
  52. ^ "Rocky Marciano Statue". Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  53. ^ "Rocky Marciano". www.italyheritage.com.

Bibliography

External links

Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by
Jersey Joe Walcott 		The Ring heavyweight champion
September 23, 1952 – April 27, 1956
Retired 		Vacant
Title next held by
Floyd Patterson
World heavyweight champion
September 23, 1952 – April 27, 1956
Retired
Records
Preceded by
Max Baer
Age 50 		Youngest world heavyweight champion
to have died
Age 45
August 31, 1969 – December 30, 1970 		Succeeded by
Sonny Liston
c. age 38 to 40
Retrieved from ""