Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1,
1923 - August 31, 1969) was an American professional boxer who held
the world heavyweight title from September 23, 1952 to April 27, 1956.
Marciano went undefeated in his career and defended his title six
times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles
(twice), Don Cockell, and Archie Moore. Marciano had a short, blazing
career usually accustomed to pressure fighters.
Known for his
relentless style, incredible stamina, and an iron chin, Marciano has
been ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight
boxers of all time. He was also known for his ferocious punching power
for a man of just 190 pounds: his knockout percentage of 87.75 is
one of the highest in heavyweight 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 eighteen 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, raliroad layer, and as a 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 Stated 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 8-4. While awaiting discharge, Marciano, representing the
army, won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament. His amateur
career was 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. 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. He won his first
sixteen bouts by knockout, all before the fifth round, and nine before
the first round was over.
