 | |
| Rocky Marciano |
When Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott, under the impact of a punch that made him helpless, a new champion was born. A product of the Army and amateur ranks, Marciano was born on September 1, 1923 and he takes his place alongside Dempsey and Louis as one of the great heavyweights.
A fighter with iron-fists, he was the only heavyweight who went through a career without a loss. Starting as a professional in 1947, he scored forty-nine victories, forty-two by knockouts and retired undefeated. Marciano effectively ended Joe Louis’ career.
Yet it was not until he fought Roland LaStarza in 1950 and gained a disputed decision that he became a headliner. Marciano continue to rise, shunting to the sidelines mediocre talent until mid-summer 1951, when his knockouts of Rex Layne in six rounds and Freddie Beshore in four brought him onto the championship spotlight.
 |
| Rocky Marciano vs Jersey Joe Walcott |
He continued his rise by handing Louis a terrific beating, stopping the erstwhile Bomber in the eighth round after which Lee Savold, Gino Buonvino, Bernie Reynolds and Harry Matthews were put out of the picture. With those triumphs he was now ready for a shot at the world crown, where he defeated Walcott.
Marciano defended his title six times. In his initial defense, a return bout, he knocked out Walcott in the opening round of a disappointing fight in Chicago. His title defenses netted Marciano purses totaling $1,462,961.
With his pre-championship income plus his side income following his rise to the top, his earnings were well beyond the $2,000,000 mark. Under manager Al Weill piloting, Rocky rose to the top of the heavyweight division and divided a fortune with Weill. From 1947, when he began as an unknown preliminary boy, until he retired in 1955 as champion he was never once defeated.
Marciano met his untimely death when he, his wife Barbara and his daughter Mary Ann were killed in a plane crash in Newton, Iowa on August 31st in 1969, the day before his 46th birthday.
Rocky Marciano - Jersey Joe Walcott - 13th Round KO
Rocky Marciano vs Ezzard Charles - 8th Round KO
Rocky Marciano Fight Record: 49 Wins, 0 Loss, 43 Knockouts
1947
Mar 17 - Lee Epperson, Holyoke, MA - KO Rd 3
1948
Jul 12 - Harry Balzerian, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Jul 19 - John Edwards, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Aug 9 - Bobby Quinn, Providence, RI - KO Rd 3
Aug 23 - Eddie Ross, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Aug 30 - Jimmy Weeks, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Sep 13 - Jerry Jackson, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Sep 20 - Bill Hardeman, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Sep 30 - Gil Cardione, Washington, DC - KO Rd 1
Oct 4 - Bob Jefferson, Providence, RI - KO Rd 2
Nov 29 - Patrick Connolly, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Dec 14 - Gilley Ferron, Philadelphia, PA - KO Rd 2
1949
Mar 21 - Johnny Pretzie, Providence, RI - KO Rd 5
Mar 28 - Artie Donator, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
Apr 11 - James Walls, Providence, RI - KO Rd 3
May 2 - Jimmy Evans, Providence, RI - KO Rd 3
May 23 - Don Mogard, Providence, RI - W Rd 10
Jul 18 - Harry Haft, Providence, RI - KO Rd 3
Aug 16 - Pete Louthis, New Bedford, MA - KO Rd 3
Sep 26 - Tommy Giorgio, Providence, RI - KO Rd 4
Oct 10 - Ted Lowry, Providence, RI - W Rd 10
Nov 7 - Joe Domonic, Providence, RI - KO Rd 2
Dec 2 - Pat Richards, New York, NY - KO Rd 2
Dec 19 - Phil Muscato, Providence, RI - KO Rd 5
Dec 30 - Carmine Vingo, New York, NY - KO Rd 6
1950
Mar 24 - Roland LaStarza, New York, NY - W Rd 10
Jun 5 - Eldridge Eatman, New York, NY - KO Rd 3
Jul 10 - Gino Buonvino, Boston, MA - KO Rd 10
Sep 18 - Johnny Shkor, Providence, RI - KO Rd 6
Nov 13 - Ted Lowry, Providence, RI - W Rd 10
Dec 18 - Bill Wilson, Providence, RI - KO Rd 1
1951
Jan 29 - Keene Simmons, Providence, RI - KO Rd 8
Mar 20 - Harold Mitchell, Hartford, CT - KO Rd 2
Mar 26 - Art Henri, Providence, RI - KO Rd 9
Apr 30 - Red Applegate, Providence, RI - W Rd 10
Jul 12 - Rex Layne, New York, NY - KO Rd 6
Aug 27 - Freddie Beshore, Boston, MA - KO Rd 4
Oct 26 - Joe Louis, New York, NY - KO Rd 8
1952
Feb 13 - Lee Savold, Philadelphia, PA - KO Rd 6
Apr 21 - Gino Buonvino, Providence, RI - KO Rd 2
May 12 - Bernie Reynolds, Providence, RI - KO Rd 3
Jul 28 - Harry Matthews, New York, NY - KO Rd 2
Sep 23 - Jersey Joe Walcott, Philadelphia, PA - KO Rd 13
(Won World Heavyweight Title)
1953
May 15 - Jersey Joe Walcott, Chicago, IL - KO Rd 1
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
Sep 24 - Roland LaStarza, New York, NY - KO Rd 11
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1954
Jun 19 - Ezzard Charles, New York, NY - W Rd 15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
Sep 17 - Ezzard Charles, New York, NY - KO Rd 8
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1955
May 16 - Don Cockell, San Francisco, CA - KO Rd 9
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
Sep 21 - Archie Moore, New York, NY - KO Rd 9
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1956
Apr 27 - Announces Retirement
