4. “The Brockton Blockbuster” Rocky Marciano 49-0, 43 KOs
Rocco Francis Marchegiano was born in Brockton, Massachusetts to Italian immigrants in September of 1923. He grew up with his brothers playing baseball and dreaming of the Big Leagues until leaving school in the 10th grade and enlisting in the Army. It was there that Rocky Marciano began an amateur career that ended after hurting his hands in a knockout win over George McInnis in AAU Olympic tryouts.
In March of 1947 he traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina to try out for the Fayetteville Cubs who were the farm team for the Chicago Cubs. He was sent packing after three weeks and returned home where he resumed boxing, turning professional in March 17 of the same year.
Marciano was historically one of the most physically disadvantaged Heavyweight champions standing only 5’10” and the shortage reach of any in history with 68″. He was clumsy, had terrible footwork and a crouch-and-club type style. He possessed, however, a will to win that very few in all of sport can even imagine. He also had a cement chin, inhuman stamina and pulverizing, one-punch power in either hand. If ever there was a seemingly regular guy from the neighborhood who made it big, it was Marciano.
He won his first 16 fights by knockout with nine of them in the first round. As he progressed he found himself in some competitive fights with his power making the difference and scoring a knockout or on occasion battering his opponent en route to a decision victory.
In 1951 Marciano was an underdog when he faced 37 year old all-time great Joe Louis. He pulled the upset, dropping Louis twice in the eigth round, the second of which sent the limp form of his childhood idol backward through the ropes. Lying on his back on the reporter’s ringside table and left foot still on the second rope referee Ruby Goldstein signaled the end of the fight.
Marciano challenged the wily 38-year-old veteran “Jersey” Joe Walcott for the Heavyweight championship in the fall of 1952. Walcott dropped Marciano heavily to a knee in the first round and steadily pulled away on the scorecards. Walcott continued boxing intelligently and showing Marciano angles, making him miss and countering effectively.
Going into the 13th round Walcott had a comfortable lead as Marciano pressed forward undeterred. With his back near the ropes Walcott set to throw a right while Marciano simultaneously threw his own. Marciano’s landed first with bone-crushing velocity and Walcott slowly slumped to the canvas. His head coming to rest on the canvas as he was counted out in a position looking much like someone in prayer.
Marciano defended the title against former champion Ezzard Charles in 1954. Close to being stopped with his nose gruesomely split down the middle and hopelessly behind on points Marciano’s power once again bailed him out and he scored an eight-round knockout in The Ring’s Fight of the Year.
With six successful title defenses, Marciano retired in 1955 as the undefeated Heavyweight champion of the world.
Suggested viewing: Rocky Marciano’s come from behind title winning battle with “Jersey” Joe Walcott in 1951.
