Rocky Marciano

Rocky "The Brockton Blockbuster" Marciano
Statistics
Real name	Rocco Francis Marchegiano
Nickname(s)	The Brockton Blockbuster The Rock from Brockton
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Reach	67 in (170 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	September 1, 1923(1923-09-01) Brockton, Massachusetts
Died	August 31, 1969(1969-08-31) (aged 45) Near Newton, Iowa
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	49
Wins by KO	43
Losses	0
Draws	0
No contests	0

Rocky Marciano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969), born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an Italian-American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times.

Early years

Marciano was born and raised in 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 three sisters—Alice, Concetta, and Elizabeth—and two brothers—Sonny and Peter. When he was about eighteen months old he got pneumonia, from which he almost died.

In his youth, he played baseball, worked out on homemade weightlifting equipment (Marciano was also a client of Charles Atlas)^[1], and used a stuffed mail bag 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 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 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.^[2]

Amateur circuit

Marciano's amateur record was a paltry 8–4.^[3] 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, however, 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

In late March, 1947, Marciano and a few of his friends traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to try out for the Fayetteville Cubs, a farm team for the Chicago Cubs baseball team.^[6] 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 served as his manager 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 (3-6-0). He won his first sixteen 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 decision.

Early in his career, he changed the spelling of his last name. 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".^[7]

Marciano won three more fights by knockout, and then he met Ted Lowry (58-48-9), who, according to many scribes and witnesses, probably managed to win three or four of the ten rounds from Marciano. Nevertheless, Marciano kept his winning streak alive by beating Lowry by decision. Four more knockout wins followed, including a five rounder on December 19, 1949 with Phil Muscato (56-20-0), an experienced heavyweight from Buffalo, New York, and the first "name fighter" Marciano would face. Three weeks after that fight, Marciano beat Carmine Vingo (16-1-0) in a fifth round knockout in New York that almost killed Vingo.

Marciano vs. Roland La Starza I

In a 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. The scoring for the bout was 5–4, 4–5, 5–5, and Marciano won on a supplemental point system used by New York and Massachusetts at that time. (It should also be noted that this scoring system did not award an extra point for a knockdown, and that Marciano scored a knockdown in this fight). Referee Watson decided the bout, scoring it 9-6 for Marciano. Both boxers were undefeated at the time of the fight, with La Starza's record at 37-0. Many believe that Marciano actually did lose to Roland LaStarza in their first fight but got a gift decision. Jesse Abramson, boxing writer for the New York Daily Herald called it a “paper thin and exceedingly odd decision.” And it was “universally condemned around ringside as a miscarriage of justice”, according to newspaper reports. Even a member of the New England Press Corp, who would be inclined to favor Marciano in the New York bout against LaStarza, said it was a “dubious decision.” More than 50 years later LaStarza was incredulous of the decision, “I won that fight,” he maintained. In the New York Herald Tribune, Mar 25, 1950, LaStarza said, “The fact is his manager Al Weill was matchmaker for the Garden. I would say that had a lot to do with the decision.”

Subsequent bouts

Marciano won three more knockouts in a row before a rematch with Lowry (61-56-10). Marciano again won, by unanimous decision. After that, he won four more by knockout, and, after a decision win over Red Applegate (11-14-2) late April 1951, he was showcased on national television for the first time, when he knocked out Rex Layne (34-1-2) in six rounds on July 12, 1951.

On Oct. 27, 1951, the 27 year old, Marciano, took on the 37 year old, Joe Louis. Coming into the bout, Marciano was 6½ to 5 underdog.^[8] Marciano would upset the favorite, Louis, in what would be the latter's last career bout, a result that left him with mixed emotions, as Louis had been his childhood idol.

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

Championship fights

Marciano, 28, 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; but in the thirteenth, Walcott used his trademark feint to set up his right hand, but Marciano's "Suzie Q" landed first. Marciano landed a glancing left 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 heavyweight champion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all scorecards, 8-4, 7-5, 7-4.

His first defense came a year later, a rematch against Walcott, 39, who this time was knocked out in the first round, although Walcott claimed a fast-count.

"I could have gotten up at the count of two," Walcott said. "But I looked over at Felex and he told me to stay down. At six or seven, he signaled me to rise. Then it was too late. I didn't hear a count over seven."

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 by a technical knockout in the eleventh 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 fifteen rounds against Marciano.^[9] 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.

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. Marciano recovered, and retained his title by way of a knockout in round nine.

Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956.^[10]

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 three years, Marciano decided against it and never seriously considered a comeback again after witnessing Liston's destruction of Patterson.^[11]

After his retirement, Marciano entered the world of television, first appearing in the Combat! episode "Masquerade", and then hosting a weekly boxing show on TV in 1961. 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.

In late July 1969, shortly before his death, Marciano participated in the filming of the fantasy, 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 their prime. It aired on January 20, 1970, with Marciano winning by knockout in round 13.

Death

In 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday, Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane, a Cessna 172^[12] headed to Des Moines, Iowa. It was at night, and bad weather set in. The pilot, Glenn Belz, had only 231 total hours of flying time, only 35 of them at night, and was not certified to fly in Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Belz tried to set the plane down at a small airfield outside Newton, Iowa, but hit a tree two miles short of the runway. Rocky, Belz (the young pilot), and 22 year old Frankie Farrell (son of Italian mobster Louis Fratto) were killed on impact. 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."^{[13] [14]} Marciano was on his way to give a speech to support a friend's son and there was a surprise birthday celebration waiting for him. He had hoped to return 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.

He is interred in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His wife, who died five years after him at the age of 46, is entombed next to him. His father died in March 1972, his mother in early January 1986.

Legacy

In 1971, Nat Fleischer, perhaps boxing's most famous historian and also editor and founder of Ring magazine, named Marciano as the 10th greatest Heavyweight champion ever.^[15] Nat Fleischer wrote that in terms of boxing ability 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 fifty odd punches he tossed when he had Archie against the ropes, a perfect target for the kill."^[16]

John Durant author of The Heavyweight Champions wrote in 1971 (pg. 123) “Critics do not rate Rocky with the great ones, like Jeffries, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, and Louis. He never faced top-notch fighters like they did. It was not Rocky’s fault, of course, that there was not much talent when he was fighting. He fought them all and that is what a champion is supposed to do.”

In December 1962, a Ring magazine poll of 40 boxing experts had Jack Dempsey rated the #1 Heavyweight of all time with Joe Louis 2nd, Jack Johnson 3rd and Marciano 7th. Charley Rose, a historian, and John McCallum's Survey of Old Timers, (survey of a group of historians and writers), rated Marciano at #8 and #9 of greatest Heavyweights of all time.^[17]

In 1998, Ring magazine named Marciano as the 6th greatest heavyweight champion ever. In 2002, Ring Magazine numbered Marciano at #12 on the list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. In 2003, Ring Magazine rated Marciano #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.^[18] A 1977 ranking by Ring magazine listed Marciano as the greatest Italian-American fighter. In 2007, on ESPN.com's list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time, Marciano was ranked #14.

Marciano holds the record with Heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight. He also has the record for being the only world heavyweight champion to go undefeated throughout his career. Julio César Chávez, who holds the record for longest win streak with eighty-eight straight until he suffered a draw in 1993, tied Marciano's record but lost his 50th fight against Dicky Ryan. Willie Pep, a featherweight, had a perfect 62-0 record before he was defeated once, followed by a 72-0-1 undefeated streak. Packy McFarland was a lightweight (fighting between 1904–1915) who lost his first fight and then won his next 98, though he never won the lightweight title. Heavyweight champion Gene Tunney never suffered a defeat at heavyweight and retired as champion, although he did lose one fight at light heavyweight.

Throughout history, only a few boxers have retired as undefeated world champions. As of 2009 apart from Marciano only Michael Loewe, Pichit Sitbangprachan, Harry Simon, Sven Ottke and Joe Calzaghe retired with a perfect record containing neither defeats nor draws.

Marciano was knocked down to the canvas only twice in his professional career. The first occurred in his first championship against Jersey Joe Walcott, 38, and the second occurred against Archie Moore, 38.

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 armour-piercing bullet and represents as much energy as would be required to spot lift 1000 pounds one foot off the ground." ^[19][20]

Marciano was named fighter of the year by Ring Magazine three times. His three championship fights between 1952-54 were named fights of the year by that magazine. 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. In 1955, he was voted second most important American athlete of the year.

Marciano is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

A bronze statue of Marciano was planned for a 2009 completion date in his hometown of Brockton, MA, to be 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.^[21] As of November 2010, the statue was still in the planning stages, with no confirmed funding from the World Boxing Council.^[22]

A bronze statue of Marciano has been erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy, to celebrate the birthplace of Marciano's father.

Contrary to popular belief, the character Rocky Balboa from the Rocky film franchise was not inspired by Rocky Marciano, but actually Chuck Wepner^[23] Both Rockys do share some similarites however. Both were Italian Catholics, both defeated a heavily favored black heavyweight champion to win the title, and Rocky Marciano is shown as Rocky Balboa's idol in the first movie.

Professional boxing record

49 Wins (43 knockouts, 6 decisions), 0 Losses, 0 Draws [4]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	49–0	Archie Moore	KO	9 (15)	21/09/1955	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States	Retained World Heavyweight title.
Win	48–0	Don Cockell	TKO	9 (15)	16/05/1955	Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, United States	Retained World Heavyweight title.
Win	47–0	Ezzard Charles	TKO	8 (15)	17/09/1954	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States	Retained World Heavyweight title. 1954 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win	46–0	Ezzard Charles	UD	15	17/06/1954	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States	Retained World Heavyweight title.
Win	45–0	Roland La Starza	TKO	11 (15)	24/09/1953	Polo Grounds, New York, New York, United States	Retained World Heavyweight title. 1953 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win	44–0	Jersey Joe Walcott	KO	1 (15)	15/05/1953	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, United States	Retained World Heavyweight title.
Win	43–0	Jersey Joe Walcott	KO	13 (15)	23/09/1952	Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Won World Heavyweight title. Fight was named Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1952.
Win	42–0	Harry Matthews	KO	2 (10)	28/07/1952	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States	World Heavyweight Title Eliminator.
Win	41–0	Bernie Reynolds	KO	3 (10)	12/05/1952	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	40–0	Gino Buonvino	KO	2 (10)	21/04/1952	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	39–0	Lee Savold	RTD	6 (10)	13/02/1952	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	38–0	Joe Louis	TKO	8 (10)	26/10/1951	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	37–0	Freddie Beshore	KO	4 (10)	27/08/1951	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win	36–0	Rex Layne	KO	6 (10)	12/07/1951	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	35–0	Willis Applegate	UD	10	30/04/1951	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	34–0	Art Henri	TKO	9 (10)	26/03/1951	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	33–0	Harold Mitchell	TKO	2 (10)	20/03/1951	Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win	32–0	Keene Simmons	TKO	8 (10)	29/01/1951	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	31–0	Bill Wilson	TKO	1 (10)	18/12/1950	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	30–0	Ted Lowry	UD	10	13/11/1950	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	29–0	Johnny Shkor	TKO	6 (10)	18/09/1950	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	28–0	Gino Buonvino	TKO	10 (10)	10/07/1950	Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win	27–0	Eldridge Eatman	TKO	3 (10)	05/06/1950	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	26–0	Roland La Starza	SD	10	24/03/1950	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	25–0	Carmine Vingo	KO	6 (10)	30/12/1949	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	24–0	Phil Muscato	TKO	5 (10)	19/12/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	23–0	Pat Richards	TKO	2 (8)	02/12/1949
Win	22–0	Joe Dominic	KO	2 (10)	07/11/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	21–0	Ted Lowry	UD	10	10/10/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	20–0	Tommy DiGiorgio	KO	4 (10)	26/09/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	19–0	Pete Louthis	KO	3 (10)	16/08/1949	New Page Arena, New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Win	18–0	Harry Haft	KO	3 (10)	18/07/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	17–0	Don Mogard	UD	10	23/05/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	16–0	Jimmy Evans	TKO	3 (10)	02/05/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	15–0	Jimmy Walls	KO	3 (10)	11/04/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	14–0	Artie Donato	KO	1 (10)	28/03/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	13–0	Johnny Pretzie	TKO	5 (10)	21/03/1949	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	12–0	Gilley Ferron	TKO	2 (6)	14/12/1948	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	11–0	James Patrick Connolly	TKO	1 (8)	29/11/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	10–0	Bob Jefferson	TKO	2 (6)	04/10/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	9–0	Gilbert Cardone	KO	1 (4)	30/09/1948	Uline Arena, Washington, United States
Win	8–0	Bill Hardeman	KO	1 (6)	20/09/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	7–0	Humphrey Jackson	KO	1 (6)	13/09/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	6–0	Jimmy Weeks	TKO	1 (6)	30/08/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	5–0	Eddie Ross	KO	1 (6)	23/08/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	4–0	Bobby Quinn	KO	3 (4)	09/08/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	3–0	John Edwards	KO	1 (4)	19/07/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	2–0	Harry Bilzerian	TKO	1 (4)	12/07/1948	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win	1–0	Lee Epperson	KO	3 (4)	17/03/1948	Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States	Pro debut for Marciano who used name Rocky Mack.

See also

Biography portal

• List of heavyweight boxing champions

References and notes

1. ^ Charles Atlas: Muscle Man by Jonathan Black, Smithsonian magazine, August 2009
2. ^ Skehan, Everett M. (1977). Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 39. ISBN 039525356X. 
3. ^ Skehan, Everett M. (1977). Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 73. ISBN 039525356X. 
4. ^ Skehan, Everett M. (1977). Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 69. ISBN 039525356X. 
5. ^ Skehan, Everett M. (1977). Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 70. ISBN 039525356X. 
6. ^ Skehan, Everett M. (1977). Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 66. ISBN 039525356X. 
7. ^ Rocky Marciano at The Port Gallery
8. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Sp0VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5608,1297081&dq=rocky+marciano&hl=en
9. ^ Will Hammock. "The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today." Gwinnett Daily Post. Jun 5, 2010
10. ^ Mullan (1996). Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. pp. 81. ISBN 0785806415. 
11. ^ Skehan, Everett M. (1977). Rocky Marciano: Biography of a first son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 257. ISBN 039525356X. 
12. ^ An Article On Marciano At Check Six
13. ^ Thirty Fifth Anniversary Of The Death Of Rocky Marciano
14. ^ Rocky Marciano raised money for the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. [Archive] - Boxing Forum
15. ^ The Ring Online (September, 1971). "Classic Columns". Archived from the original on 2007-01-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20070113104323/http://www.thering-online.com/ringpages/boxinghistory.html#clayalltime. Retrieved 2007-01-18. 
16. ^ http://coxscorner.tripod.com/rocky.html
17. ^ http://boxinguniverse.yuku.com/topic/87
18. ^ International Boxing Research Organization (March, 2005). "All Time Rankings". Archived from the original on November 5, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061105190801/http://ibroresearch.com/All+Time+Rankings.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-18. 
19. ^ A picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi
20. ^ A further picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi
21. ^ [1] Brockton Enterprise: Where to put Rocky?
22. ^ [2] Brockton’s Rocky Marciano Statue Committee wants meeting with World Boxing Council
23. ^ [3] Chuck "The Real Rocky" Wepner

External links

• Professional boxing record for Rocky Marciano from BoxRec
• Amateur Boxing Record for Rocky Marciano [5] from BoxArec
• Rocky Marciano at Find a Grave
• Rocky Marciano // Official Website
• Check-Six.com - The Crash of Rocky Marciano's Cessna plane
• Rocky Marciano at the Internet Movie Database
• ESPN Greatest Ever KO Poll
• Brockton pays tribute to Allie Colombo, Marciano's friend and trainer

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jersey Joe Walcott	World Heavyweight Champion September 23, 1952 – April 27, 1956 Retired	Succeeded by Floyd Patterson
Preceded by Sugar Ray Robinson	Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 1952	Succeeded by Bobo Olson
Preceded by Bobo Olson	Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 1954 and 1955	Succeeded by Floyd Patterson

Persondata
Name	Marciano, Rocky
Alternative names	Marchegiano, Rocco Francis
Short description	American heavyweight boxer
Date of birth	1923-09-01
Place of birth	Brockton, Massachusetts
Date of death	1969-08-31
Place of death	Near Newton, Iowa