Rocky Marciano was an American professional boxer, the heavyweight champion of the World in 1950's. Credited for his durability and punching power, he is best know for being the only heavyweight champion to never lose a professional fight.
Background
Rocky Marciano was born on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts. He was born as Rocco Francis Marchegianon, to Italian settlers Pasqualina Picciuto and Pierino Marchegiano. Marciano and his three sisters and two siblings lived over the road from the James Edgar Playground, where Marciano spent endless hours playing baseball. At a youthful age, he worked out on a custom made weights and chinned ups until he "was absolutely exhausted."
His dad, Pierino, worked at a shoe industrial facility. His mom's name was Pasqualena, and Rocky spend most of his life ensuring she didn't live in the poverty which he had seen in his childhood. Rocky was an ordinary American child, playing football and baseball and longing for an expert vocation in one of those games. He didn't take up boxing until 1943.
Education
Marciano went to Brockton High School and played baseball and football, yet got cut from the varsity baseball group when he damaged standards by joining a congregation association. He left school when he was in 10th standard and started looking for work and switched between several ones; one of which was at Brockton's shoe factory as a floor sweeper. In 1943, Marciano was drafted into the Army and sent to Wales, where he carried supplies over the English Channel to Normandy. He ended his administration on March 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Career
While anticipating for the release, Marciano spoke to his unit at Fort Lewis in a progression of novice battles, winning the 1946 Amateur Armed Force's boxing competition. In March 1947, he battled as an expert contender, thumping out Lee Epperson in three rounds. Soon thereafter, subsequent to going to the Chicago Cubs baseball group and being cut, Rocky came back to Brockton and started boxing preparing with long-term companion Allie Colombo.
Al Weill and Chick Wergeles turned into Marciano's supervisor, and Charley Goldman turned into his expert mentor. Marciano's workout regimen incorporated at least seven miles of running for each day, and wearing substantial preparing shoes exceptionally intended for him by a nearby shoe tycoon and admirer.
Rocky at last got a shot to fight for the World Heavyweight title against Jersey Joe Walcott in September, 1952; a session, which went ahead to be voted as the best knockout ever in a 2006 survey by ESPN. Walcott appeared to win serenely driving in the focuses table till the thirteenth round when all of a sudden, Rocky's renowned deadly right hand punch "Suzie Q" thumped him out and Rocky at long last turned into the World Heavyweight Champion. As a proof of his strength, Rocky thumped Walcott out in the first round itself in his first title resistance the next year.
Rocky safeguarded his title a sum of six times, and the main boxer who figured out how to last fifteen rounds against him was the light heavyweight legend, Ezzard Charles, in their session in the June of 1954. In any case, he too was thumped out by Rocky in his next title resistance precisely three months after the fact. In the last match of his profession in September, 1955, Rocky Marciano confronted Archie Moor. Field thumped down Rocky in the second round itself, and it was just the second time in the Rocky's profession that he had been thumped down. Be that as it may, he recouped to thump out Archie in the ninth round, a fitting end to an unbelievable vocation. At the point when Rocky hung up his gloves for good the next year, his win-misfortune record read 49-0, with no ties and an extraordinary 43 knockouts.
There were the individuals who didn't think much would happen to the 190-pound heavyweight from Brockton in the good old days. Goody Petronelli, noted battle coach, got one of his initial battles and reviewed for Sports Illustrated, "I never thought he'd make it. He was excessively old, very nearly 25. He was too short, he was too light. He had no compass. Harsh and intense, however, no artfulness." The main residence people got to be adherents, however, setting out in gatherings to Marciano's battles in adjacent Providence, Rhode Island, and hollering "Timmmmberrr" when Rocky had a rival prepared to go down.
Mentor Charley Goldman taught Marciano his trademark strategy, which would serve him well as a champion. He had a record of 37 wins and 32 knockouts On October 26, 1951, added to his repertoire, he confronted his most impressive adversary with Joe Louis in the previous heavyweight championship. Louis was past his prime and when Marciano thumped him out in the eighth round, he had such blended emotions at beating his saint that he cried in Louis' changing area after the battle. Supposition aside, be that as it may, the battle set up Marciano as one of the marquee contenders in the heavyweight division, and guaranteed him a title shot before too long.
Dissimilar to a hefty portion of his comrades, Rocky didn't misuse his riches or vanish into obscurity after his demise. Despite what might be expected, he effectively aced an assortment of parts, including that of a reporter, wrestling official and a fruitful representative. Be that as it may, there was one more bend to come in the life of this boxing awesome which was similarly shocking and interesting.
After his retirement, Marciano entered the universe of TV, first showing up in the Combat! Scene "Masquerade" and after that facilitating a week by week confining show on TV 1961. For a brief period, he filled in as an investigating arbitrator in wrestling (Marciano was a decent wrestler in secondary school). He proceeded as an arbitrator and confining reporter fights for a long time. He also used to take part in the business as an accomplice and VP of Papa Luigi Spaghetti Dens, which is a San Francisco-based firm founded by Joe Kearns and James Braly. He assembled a custom home at 641 NW 24 Street in Wilton Manors, Florida, and a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
On his 46th birthday in 1969, the eminent boxing champion died in a plane crash.
During his illustrious career, Rocky won 49 straight fights. Among these, 43 were known as knockout matches. He was an undefeated heavyweight world champion till his death.
With a knockout percentage of 87.75, Rocky held the record of highest knockout percentage among all the heavyweight champions.
Marciano is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
A bronze statue of Marciano is situated in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, as a gift to the city by the World Boxing Council.
Rocky was not interested much in politics however was against corruption.
Views
A promise Rocky made to himself after beating Jersey Joe Walcot
“When you’re the heavyweight champion of the world, you represent boxing,” he said later. “I made up my mind that I would never do anything to disgrace the title.”
Quotations:
"I was on my face. I heard the count from one to 10. I kept telling myself that I had to get up, but I couldn't move. I couldn't make myself move. It was the strangest feeling."
"I have always adhered to two principles. The first one is to train hard and get in the best possible physical condition. The second is to forget all about the other fellow until you face him in the ring and the bell sounds for the fight."
"What could be better than walking down any street in any city and knowing you're the heavyweight champion of the world?"
"I have always adhered to two principles. The first one is to train hard and get in the best possible physical condition. The second is to forget all about the other fellow until you face him in the ring and the bell sounds for the fight."
"Why waltz with a guy for 10 rounds if you can knock him out in one?"
Personality
Rocky Marciano transmited comprehension and sympathy. Individuals sensed his glow and decency. Hence, Rocky pulled in numerous individuals who needed solace, including the distraught. Individuals tended to come to him to dump their weights. Marciano moved certainty.
Rocky had a fine feeling of equity. He made every effort to keep the congruity and was notwithstanding eager to give up his own cravings for the benefit of other people.
He adored kids and was a decent parent. He was sentimental, dedicated and extremely defensive.
Rocky was more worried with the substance of his identity than his appearance, which causes him to be less aware of the style of his garments. He was more inspired by solace and the utility of garments than the announcement it made.
He was a tough boxer to beat but was kind and good at heart. Most of his opponents who lost to Rocky had praises for the man always.
Physical Characteristics:
He was a well built personality. His height was 5 ft 10 1⁄2 in (179 cm).
Quotes from others about the person
One sportswriter commented "If all the heavyweight champions of all time were locked together in a room, Marciano would be the one to walk out."
"Rocky Marciano stood out in boxing like a rose in a garbage dump." Jimmy Cannon
"The greatness of Marciano in the ring was defined by the way he prepared for a fight, his ability to punch and take a punch." Will McDonough
"I was on my face. I heard the count from one to 10. I kept telling myself that I had to get up, but I couldn't move. I couldn't make myself move. It was the strangest feeling." Rex Layne, after being knocked out by Marciano.
"Rocky is a poor Italian boy from a poor Italian family, and he appreciates the buck more than almost anybody. He's only got two halfway decent purses so far, and it was like a tiger tasting blood." Al Weill, Marciano's manager, as his young fighter was moving toward a title shot
Interests
He was aesthetic and adored music, blooms and cultivating. He had an incredible feeling of shading and taste.
Connections
In 1947, Rocky met Barbara Cousins, who was the daughter of retired Brockton police official. Four years later, they married and had a daughter named Mary Ann. They also adopted a son and named him Rocco Kevin.
