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Rocco Francis Marchegiano, better known as Rocky Marciano was born on Sept. 1, 1923, in Brockton, Mass. Failing to become a professional baseball player, Marciano turned to boxing and won 27 of 30 amateur bouts before he turned professional on July 12, 1948, winning a fight against Harry Bilizarian. During his climb to the heavyweight title, on Oct. 26, 1951, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Marciano became the second boxer ever to knock out Joe Louis. On Sept. 23, 1952, Marciano won the title by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott with a historic right to the jaw in 13 rounds in Philadelphia. The only heavyweight champion with a perfect professional record, Marciano was undefeated in 49 fights and successfully defended his title six times before retiring in April 1956. Arguably the best knockout puncher in boxing history, he won 43 of his pro bouts by knockouts. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Marciano died on Aug. 31, 1969, in a plane crash.
Remembering Rocky Marciano, the legendary Heavyweight Champion
On Sept. 23, 1952, at 43 seconds of the 13th round with an atomic right to the jaw, Rocky Marciano knocked out reigning heavyweight champ, Jersey Joe Walcott, to claim the World Heavyweight title in an epic bout named 'Fight of the Year.' Born on Sept. 1, 1923, in Brockton, Mass., Marciano became the only heavyweight champion with a perfect professional record, undefeated in 49 fights, who successfully defended his title six times before retiring on April 27, 1956. Arguably the best knockout puncher in boxing history, he won 43 of his pro bouts by knockouts. Marciano died on Aug. 31, 1969, in a small plane crash near Des Moines, Iowa, the day before his 46th birthday.
Rocco Francis Marchegiano, better known as Rocky Marciano was born on Sept. 1, 1923, in Brockton, Mass. Failing to become a professional baseball player, Marciano turned to boxing and won 27 of 30 amateur bouts before he turned professional on July 12, 1948, winning a fight against Harry Bilizarian. During his climb to the heavyweight title, on Oct. 26, 1951, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Marciano became the second boxer ever to knock out Joe Louis. On Sept. 23, 1952, Marciano won the title by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott with a historic right to the jaw in 13 rounds in Philadelphia. The only heavyweight champion with a perfect professional record, Marciano was undefeated in 49 fights and successfully defended his title six times before retiring in April 1956. Arguably the best knockout puncher in boxing history, he won 43 of his pro bouts by knockouts. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Marciano died on Aug. 31, 1969, in a plane crash.
Rocco Marchegiano slips a right hand from Coley Wallace in the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions quarter-final on March 1, 1948, at Ridgewood Grove on the Brooklyn-Queens border. Marchegiano, still an amateur boxer, later changed his name to Rocky Marciano because his manager said it would be easier to pronounce. Wallace, who started quickly, hung on to win a controversial split decision, the only known loss on Marciano’s record. Wallace played Joe Louis in “The Joe Louis Story.”
Rocky Marciano, right, and Joe Louis battle it out at on Oct. 26, 1951, at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Louis’ last professional fight.
He knocks him down! Rocky Marciano, left, has Joe Louis in a sitting position at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 26, 1951, in New York.
A smiling Rocky Marciano reads the Daily News at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in NewYork, after defeating Joe Louis on Oct. 26, 1951, at Madison Square Garden.
Heavyweight champ Joe Walcott has his crown eyed by Harry Matthews, left, and Rocky Marciano on July 15, 1952, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Later, Matthews and Marciano met to sign for their bout on July 28, 1952, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Champion in training! Rocky Marciano poses on Aug. 28, 1952, at Grossinger’s in Liberty, N.Y., where he was training for the title bout with Joe Walcott.
Rocky Marciano drinks a glass of milk while preparing for the world heavyweight championship fight against title holder Jersey Joe Walcott on Sept. 23, 1952, in Philadelphia.
A powerful punch from Jersey Joe Walcott, in the first round of their world heavyweight title contest on Sept. 23. 1952, in Philadelphia, landed Rocky Marciano on the ground. It was the first time in Marciano’s professional career that he had been floored.
At 43 seconds of the 13th round, Rocky Marciano made history with a nuclear right to the jaw of defending champion Jersey Joe Walcott, becoming the World Heavyweight Champion on Sept. 23, 1952, in Philadelphia. The Ring named it “Fight of the Year” and named the 13th round, “Round of the Year.” It has since become one of boxing’s most legendary punches.
Rocky Marciano walks back to his corner after knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott at 43 seconds of the 13th round on Sept. 23. 1952, in Philadelphia.
Rocky Marciano celebrates after knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott with a historic right to the jaw, in the 13th round to claim the World Heavyweight title on Sept. 23, 1952, in Philadelphia.
Barbara Marciano, justly proud of her husband, places a makeshift crown on the battered head of the new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion in the Warwick Hotel, on Sept. 25, 1952, in Philadelphia. One look at Rocky’s face proves he won the crown the hard way from Joe Walcott.
Marciano strikes a pose at his training camp on Aug. 11, 1953, at Grossinger’s in Liberty, N.Y.
Rocky Marciano is battling Roland LaStarza, left, in a rematch on Sept. 24, 1953, at the Polo Grounds in New York, after just squeaking out a win in their match on March 24, 1950. Bent on the kill, Marciano bulls in and wins again in the 11th round.
Challenger Roland LaStarza instinctively, but weakly raises his weary arms in defense as heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano cranks his right against his sitting-duck rival in the 11th round on Sept. 24, 1953, at the Polo Grounds in New York. Rocky clubbed La Starza into a helpless hulk, winning by a TKO in the 11th round.
The News boxing writer Gene Ward (right) shows the champion paper to the champion heavyweight, Rocky Marciano (left), as they discuss post-fight details on Sept. 25, 1953.
Rocky Marciano poses at training camp on June 6, 1954, at Grossinger’s in Liberty, N.Y.
Champion Rocky Marciano, his eye cut, flattens challenger Ezzard Charles’ nose with a crushing right uppercut in the 6th round on June 17, 1954, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Rocky Marciano sits in his dressing room after his first victory over Ezzard Charleson on June 17, 1954, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Manager Al Weil whispers to Boxer Rocky Marciano, right, while he works out at CYO on 353 West 17th St in Manhattan on Sept. 17, 1954.
With a large patch covering most of his tender nose, the Rock Rocky Marciano takes a breather to read accounts of his second victory over Ezzard Charles on Sept. 17, 1954, in The News.
Heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano fingers his healed nose on Feb. 16, 1955, at Grossinger’s in Liberty, New York, as he holds a photograph showing the deep cut he got in his second bout with Ezzard Charles last September at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. A three-round test showed he’s okay, so he’ll meet British champ Don Cockell in May next year.
Rocky Marciano, right, misses with a right as Archie Moore turns away during their bout on Sept. 21, 1955, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Rocky Marciano rebounds from a second-round knockdown on Sept. 21, 1955, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Rocky Marciano lunges with his right as Archie Moore braces for the impending blow on Sept. 21, 1955, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. At 1:19 of the ninth, Marciano smashed Moore to the floor for the last time and scored the 43rd knockout of his career.
An exultant and sweaty Rocky Marciano has his hands raised in triumph after his knockout win over Archie Moore on Sept. 21, 1955, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. This was Marciano’s last fight. He retired the following April with a record of 49-0, with 43 KOs.
World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano is photographed in 1955.
