Mass. boxer was a R.I. favorite

Rhode Island boxer Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade recently had a momentous victory against top-rated middleweight Maciej Sulecki in front of an electrified crowd here at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. It was his first fight in his home city of Providence.

In the 1950s, boxer Rocco Francis Marchegiano — better known as Rocky Marciano — was a favorite here. Even though he was from Brockton, Massachusetts, Rhode Islanders considered him theirs. His fights took place at the Rhode Island Auditorium, which used to be on North Main Street in Providence. On Sept. 23, 1952, a huge crowd filled the streets outside the Journal building on Fountain Street to hear the latest round-by-round coverage in his fight against “Jersey” Joe Walcott. Marciano won the bout and was named the new world heavyweight champion.

— Michael Delaney, director of photography and graphics