Rocky Marciano
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Pp-semi-indef Template:Citation style Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox boxer
Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969; Template:IPA), better known as Rocky Marciano (Template:IPAc-en, Template:IPA), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955. He held the world heavyweight championship from 1952 to 1956, and remains the only heavyweight champion to finish his career undefeated.<ref name="TheBoxingChannel">(February 4, 2014). "boxing-hall-of-fame-las-vegas-nv-presents-boxing-history-rocky-marciano".</ref> His six title defenses were against Jersey Joe Walcott (from whom he had taken the title), Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell and Archie Moore.
Known for his relentless fighting style, formidable punching power, stamina, and exceptionally durable chin, Marciano is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.<ref name="Greatest Boxer Articles">* Bert Randolph Sugar & Teddy Atlas The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists Running Press, Template:ISBN
- ESPN.com, All-Time Greatest Boxers
- James B. Roberts & Alexander G.Skutt The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book, McBooks Press, Template:ISBN
- The Mike Casey Archive The Cyber Boxing Zone
- Russell Sullivan Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times, Illinois Press, Template:ISBN
- International Boxing Research Organization heavyweight-rankings Template:Webarchive
- International Boxing Hall Of Fame IBHOF Modern Inductees, Rocky Marciano</ref> Marciano remains the only fighter to have stopped every opponent he ever faced for the world heavyweight title, and holds the highest knockout-to-win percentage in world heavyweight title fights at 85.71%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His career knockout-to-win percentage of 87.8% remains one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history. Marciano is ranked #14 in The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life
Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, 1923, Rocky was raised on the south side of Brockton, Massachusetts.<ref name="Biography-2020">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Casey Sherman & Dave Wedge: The Rocky Road of Peter Marciano. Boston, 2018,</ref> His parents, Pierino Marchegiano and Pasqualina Picciuto, were both immigrants from Italy.<ref name="Biography-2020" /> His father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, while his mother was from San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Campania. Marciano had two brothers, Louis (aka Sonny) and Peter, and three sisters, Alice, Concetta and Elizabeth. When he was about 18 months old, Marciano contracted pneumonia, from which he almost died.
In his youth, he worked out on homemade weightlifting equipment (later in his life, Marciano was also a client of Charles Atlas)<ref>"Charles Atlas: Muscle Man" by Jonathan Black, Smithsonian magazine, August 2009.</ref> and used a stuffed mailbag that hung from a tree in his back yard as a heavy bag. He attended Brockton High School, where he played both baseball and football. However, he was cut from the school baseball team because he had joined a church league, violating a school rule forbidding players from joining other teams. He dropped out of school after finishing tenth grade.
Marciano then worked as a chute man on delivery trucks for the Brockton Ice and Coal Company. He also worked as a ditchdigger, railroad layer and shoemaker.Template:Sfn He was a resident of Hanson, Massachusetts; the house he lived in still stands on Main Street.
During the Second World War, Marciano enlisted in the US Army in March 1943 and was assigned to the 150th Combat Engineers, serving for three years.<ref name="CMG Worldwide">Template:Cite web</ref> Stationed in Swansea, Wales, he helped ferry supplies across the English Channel to Normandy. In August 1945, his battalion received a Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance of duty against the enemy from February 7–13, 1945, on the Sauer and Our Rivers in Luxembourg and Germany.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the war ended, he completed his service in March 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he received an honorable discharge from the Army with the rank of Private First Class.Template:Sfn<ref name="CMG Worldwide" />
Amateur career
Marciano's amateur record was 8–4.Template:Sfn While awaiting discharge, Marciano represented the Army and won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament. His amateur career was briefly interrupted on March 17, 1947, when Marciano stepped into the ring as a professional competitor at the Valley Arena Gardens of Holyoke, Massachusetts, being billed as "Rocky Mackianno of Westover Field".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="rockoftime">Template:Cite book</ref> That night, he knocked out local fighter Lee Epperson in three rounds. In an unusual move, Marciano returned to the amateur ranks winning the Golden Gloves Tournament in Lowell and the New England Golden Gloves,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which earned him a spot in the Golden Gloves All-East Championship Tournament in March 1948. He was controversially beaten by Coley Wallace.Template:Sfn He continued to fight as an amateur throughout the spring and competed in the AAU Olympic tryouts in the Boston Garden. There, he knocked out George McInnis, but hurt his hands during the bout and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. That was his last amateur bout.Template:Sfn
In late March 1947, Marciano and several friends traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to try out for the Fayetteville Cubs, a farm team for the Chicago Cubs baseball team.Template:Sfn Marciano lasted three weeks before being cut. After failing to find a spot on another team, he returned to Brockton and began boxing training with longtime friend Allie Colombo. Al Weill and Chick Wergeles served as his managers and Charley Goldman as his trainer and teacher.
Professional career
Although he had one professional fight (against Lee Epperson) on his record, Marciano began fighting permanently as a professional boxer on July 12, 1948. That night, he notched a win over Harry Bilazarian (3–6–0). He won his first 16 bouts by knockout, all before the fifth round and nine before the first round was over. Don Mogard (17–9–1) became the first boxer to last the distance (full 10 rounds scheduled) with "The Rock", but Marciano won by unanimous decision.
Early in his career, he changed the spelling of his last name, "Marchegiano". The ring announcer in Providence, Rhode Island, could not pronounce it, so Marciano's handler, Al Weill, suggested they create a pseudonym. The first suggestion was Rocky Mack, which Marciano rejected, deciding to go with the more Italian-sounding "Marciano".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marciano won three more fights by knockout, and then he met Ted Lowry (58–48–9). Marciano kept his winning streak alive, beating Lowry by unanimous decision. Four more knockout wins then followed, including a five-rounder on December 19, 1949, with Phil Muscato (56–20–0), an experienced heavyweight from Buffalo, New York, being the first "name fighter" Marciano faced.
Marciano vs Vingo
Three weeks after the Phil Muscato fight, Marciano defeated Carmine Vingo (16–1–0) by a sixth-round knockout in New York. Carmine was a promising prospect who was 16–1, with his loss controversial. Marciano was 24–0 at the time of the fight. The winner would be declared the white hope in the division. Rocky Marciano dropped Vingo in the first and second round, but by the fifth Vingo was gaining momentum. At 1:46 in the sixth round Marciano knocked out Vingo with a right uppercut.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vingo was unconscious and taken to the hospital on a stretcher because there were no ambulances available. As Vingo was given 50/50 survival odds, a priest administered last rites; however, Vingo pulled through and survived, befriending Marciano later on in life.
Marciano vs. Roland La Starza
Template:Main On March 24, 1950, Marciano met his first ranked opponent when he fought Roland La Starza (37–0), winning by a close split decision. La Starza may have come closer than any other boxer to defeating Marciano as a professional. The scoring for the bout was 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5. Marciano won on a supplemental point system used by New York and Massachusetts at that time. The contemporary scoring system did not award extra points for a knockdown, which Marciano scored when he knocked down La Starza in the fourth round. Referee Watson decided the bout, scoring it for Marciano.
Subsequent bouts
Marciano scored three more knockouts in a row before a rematch with Lowry (61–56–10), Marciano again winning by unanimous decision. After that, he scored four more knockouts and, after a decision over Red Applegate (11–14–2) in late April 1951, he was showcased on national television for the first time, knocking out Rex Layne (34–1–2) in six rounds on July 12, 1951.
On October 27, 1951, the 28-year-old Marciano took on the great Joe Louis. Despite Louis being well past his prime, Marciano was a 6½-to-5 underdog.<ref>Rocky Marchiano KO's Joe Louis. Eugene Register-Guard – October 26, 1951</ref> Marciano knocked Louis out in the eighth round, sending the former champion collapsing out of the ring in what would be his final fight.
After four more wins in 1952, including knockout victories over former European heavyweight champion Lee Savold (96–37–3) and top contender Harry Matthews (81–3–5), Marciano received a shot at the world title later that year.
Championship fights
Marciano, 29, faced the World Heavyweight Champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952. Walcott dropped Marciano in the first round and steadily built a points lead. In the 13th, Walcott used his trademark feint to set up his right hand, but Marciano's "Suzie Q" landed first, a powerful right hook causing Walcott to slump to his knees with his arm draped over the ropes. He lay motionless long after he had been counted out and Marciano became the new World Heavyweight Champion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all scorecards, 8–4, 7–5, and 7–4.
His first defense came the following year in May – a rematch against Walcott, now 39, who this time was knocked out in the first round.
His next defense was held five months later, in what would be a rematch with his old rival, Roland La Starza. After La Starza built a small lead on the judges' scorecards all the way through the middle rounds, Marciano eventually gained the upper hand and won the fight by a technical knockout in the 11th round.
Marciano then fought two consecutive bouts against former world Heavyweight Champion and light heavyweight legend Ezzard Charles, who became the only man to ever last a full 15 rounds against Marciano.<ref>Will Hammock (June 5, 2010). "The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today Template:Webarchive." Gwinnett Daily Post</ref> Marciano won the first fight, held at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 1954, on points. Referee Ruby Goldstein scored the bout 8–5–2 in rounds for the champion. Judge Artie Aidala scored it 9–5–1 for Marciano while judge Harold Barnes had it 8–6–1. Marciano gave Charles a rematch, and the much anticipated fight was held four months later at the same venue. Marciano controlled most of the action during the fight, but was cut badly on the nose at the end of the sixth round. Unable to get the bleeding to stop, and fearing a possible stoppage by the fight doctor, Marciano went in for the finish, and soon succeeded, knocking Charles out in the eighth round.
Marciano's next title defense came on May 16, 1955, against the British heavyweight Champion Don Cockell, held at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. Marciano controlled most of the fight, and Cockell was knocked down several times before the fight was stopped in the ninth round.
Marciano's final title defense was against the number one contender and light-heavyweight champion, Archie Moore, on September 21, 1955. The bout was originally scheduled for September 20, but because of hurricane warnings, it had to be delayed a day. Marciano was knocked down for a four-count in the second round, but quickly recovered and retained his title with a knockout in round nine.
Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956, at he age of 32.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He finished his career an undefeated champion, with a final record of 49–0, 43 of them ending in knockouts.
Boxing style
Marciano was known for his punches, especially his right hand Susie Q punch,<ref name="century">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="skills">Template:Cite web</ref> and lead hook,<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never">Template:Cite web</ref> which both had knockout potential.<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never"/> He would load up his shots bending his knees,<ref name="century"/> and by using exaggerated head movement and putting his entire body weight into every punch.<ref name="never"/> He also used a "gazelle punch" for his hook, springing up from a deep crouch to add power and cover distance.<ref name="never"/>
His footwork included a shuffle step.<ref name="never"/> He would move his back foot to his front foot to cover distance and generate more power.<ref name="never"/> He also used a full-on shift into a southpaw stance to chase opponents.<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never"/> Marciano also used a backwards leaning advance keeping his head back and to the side off of centerline.<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never"/> When setting up his overhand, Marciano would lean back while shuffling into an exchange, allowing him to advance while remaining defensively responsible.<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never"/> If an opponent threw a punch, he could lean back to reduce the impact.<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never"/> He would also use crab style blocks including a rear cross block and a lead reverse elbow block.<ref name="never"/><ref name="skills"/>
At close range, he would drive his head into his opponent's hips or shoulders immediately after a punch to stay safe or after weaving to unbalance his competitors.<ref name="never"/> He also used his head to manipulate his opponent's movement.<ref name="never"/> When in close, he would use his shorter frame to unleash a barrage of short, tight punches.<ref name="never"/>
With a relatively short reach of 68 inches and limited hand speed, Marciano was not known for relying on his jab. He used it sparingly, as it was not a key part of his strategy or a frequent setup for his powerful right hand. Instead, Marciano had other ways of landing his signature punches. One tactic he often used was timing his opponent's jab and responding with a right hook, aimed either at the body or the head. Upon developing his left hook, Marciano was able to use the punch to set up his right hand as well.<ref name="boxingnews24.com-2014">Template:Cite web</ref>
His trademark approach was a relentless forward pressure crowding opponents, cutting off the ring, and forcing exchanges. Marciano possessed an unbreakable chin along exceptional stamina and work ethic kept his pace unrelenting, often breaking opponents physically and mentally.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Marciano was also known as an extremely resilient and determined boxer.<ref name="boxingnews24.com-2014" />
Marciano's aggression was limited to the ring; once the fight was over, he was quick to show respect to his opponents being known as one of the nicest people in the sport of boxing. His style was built to entertain, characterized by relentless pressure, constant exchanges, and a refusal to back down as he kept pressing forward.<ref name="boxingnews24.com-2014" />
Training routine
Marciano was known for his intense training routine which included tons of cardio work. With Marciano running at least 5 miles per day, often uphill, and included running back downhill backwards.<ref name=":4" /> His regular gym routine included the basics such as hundreds of hours of sparring, heavy‐bag and speed‐bag work, along with tons of push-ups and sit-ups, and many medicine-ball “thumps to the gut” for core conditioning.<ref name=":4" /> It has also been reported that he would go to his local YMCA during fight camps, where he would shadowbox underwater for hours to build up his power.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During his camp Marciano would follow a strict diet that was set by his trainer Alie Colombo, he also refrained from night life and went to bed at 9:30pm every night.<ref name=":4" /> Marciano’s brother Peter later commented on his training stating “Rocky lived like a monk. He was always in incredible condition. He was devoted to training, and he could always throw more punches than he faced. He’s never been given full credit for his conditioning.”<ref name=":4" />
Life after boxing
In 1957 Marciano released a book titled Rocky Marcianos Book Of Boxing And Bodybuilding which he co wrote along side his trainer Charley Goodman. The book focused on detailed exercises and boxing moves with drawings and photos of Marciano.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Marciano considered a comeback in 1959 when Ingemar Johansson won the Heavyweight Championship from Floyd Patterson on June 26, 1959. After only a month of training in nearly four years, Marciano decided against it and never seriously considered a comeback again.Template:Sfn
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After his retirement, Marciano entered the world of television and film, he made acting debut, playing a small role in the 1957 film The Delicate Delinquent.<ref name=":0" /> 3 years later he appeared on the big screen once again as he played the deputy sheriff in College Confidentiall.<ref name=":1" /> In 1961 he began hosting a weekly boxing show on TV titled Main Event and later appearing in the Combat! episode "Masquerade" in 1963. Due to his celebrity status Marciano also made numerous appearances on late night talk shows and games show such as The Ed Sullivan Show<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>The Merv Griffin Show,<ref name=":2" />The Tonight Show Starting Johnny Carson<ref name=":3" /> along with making other minor acting appearances. For a brief period, he worked as a troubleshooting referee in wrestling (Marciano was a good wrestler in high school). He continued as a referee and boxing commentator in boxing matches for many years. He was also active in business as a partner and vice president of Papa Luigi Spaghetti Dens, a San Francisco-based franchise company formed by Joe Kearns and James Braly.
Marciano had two children—a daughter, Mary Anne (born 1952), who died on June 3, 2011, of complications from a respiratory illness<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a son, Rocco Kevin (born 1968). Mary Anne had several run-ins with the law in Florida in the 1980s and 1990s, getting arrested and charged with assault and armed robbery after previously serving jail time for cocaine possession.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Joey Marciano, a professional baseball player, is a cousin twice removed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In late July 1969, shortly before his death, Marciano participated in the filming of The Superfight: Marciano vs. Ali. The two boxers were filmed sparring, then the film was edited to match a computer simulation of a hypothetical fight between them, each in his prime. It aired on January 20, 1970, with one version having Marciano winning and the second version having Ali winning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal life
In 1947, Marciano met Barbra Cousins, daughter of a Brockton police sergeant. The two were married on December 31, 1950. They had a daughter, Mary Ann, and later adopted a son, Rocco Junior.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Marciano was a devout Catholic<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and often attended Catholic mass during training and before a fight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He once stated "the biggest thrill I can think of would be an audience with the Pope".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Marciano ended up befriending his former opponent that he sent to the hospital, Carmine Vingo. Marciano ended up paying for his medical expenses and Vingo even attended Marciano's wedding. Marciano later stated "Carmine is my friend. He forgave me. If he hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to carry on."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Marciano was also friends with many other prominent figures of his era including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.<ref name=":5" />
Death
Template:Main On August 31, 1969 (the day before his 46th birthday), Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane, a Cessna 172<ref>Fights and Flights... The Crash of Rocky Marciano's Cessna. Check-six.com (August 31, 1969). Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref> heading to Des Moines, Iowa from Chicago Midway. It was night and bad weather had set in. The pilot, Glenn Belz, had only 231 total hours of flying time, 35 of them at night, and had no instrument rating. Belz tried to land the plane at a small airfield outside Newton, Iowa but the aircraft hit a tree two miles short of the runway. Flying with Marciano in the back seat was Frankie Farrell, 28, the oldest son of organized crime figure Lew Farrell.<ref name="check-six.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Marciano, Belz, and Farrell were killed on impact.<ref name="check-six.com"/><ref name = "Champions 51"/>Template:Refn
The National Transportation Safety Board report said, "The pilot attempted an operation exceeding his experience and ability level, continued visual flight rules under adverse weather conditions and experienced spatial disorientation in the last moments of the flight."<ref>Thirty Fifth Anniversary Of The Death Of Rocky Marciano Template:Webarchive. Eastsideboxing.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref><ref>Rocky Marciano raised money for the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. [Archive] – Boxing Forum. Boxingscene.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref> Marciano was on his way to give a speech to support his friend's son and there was a surprise birthday celebration waiting for him. He had hoped to return in the early morning for his 46th birthday celebration with his wife. He was coming from a dinner in Chicago at STP CEO Andy Granatelli's home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marciano is interred in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His wife died five years later at the age of 46 due to lung cancer and is entombed next to him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Legacy
Marciano holds the record with heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight.<ref name="nbcsports">Template:Cite web</ref> He is also the only world heavyweight champion to go undefeated throughout his professional career. Although heavyweight champion Gene Tunney never suffered a defeat at heavyweight and retired as champion, he lost one career fight at light heavyweight, and his longest win streak was 32, with his overall record being 82-1-4(D)-1(NC). Marciano also has the highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight champion in history (over the period of a career) with 87.76%. In his professional career, he was only knocked down twice. The first occurred in his first title fight against Jersey Joe Walcott, and the second occurred against Archie Moore.
Despite his perfect record and retiring as champion, Marciano has sometimes been criticized for the allegedly low quality of opposition he faced during his career.<ref>Durant, John. 1971. The Heavyweight Champions. Hastings House.</ref> At the time of his first fight with Roland La Starza, some experts believed it was La Starza and not Marciano who deserved the decision.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
These criticisms notwithstanding, over the decades Marciano has been ranked highly in several all-time boxing lists. In December 1962, a Ring poll of 40 boxing experts placed Marciano as the seventh-best heavyweight of all time. Boxing historian Charlie Rose rated Marciano as the eight-best heavyweight of all time in 1968,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while John McCallum's survey of boxing historians and writers listed him as the ninth-best all-timer in the division.<ref>Heavyweight lists from 3 historical heavyweights. in Boxing History Forum. Boxinguniverse.yuku.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref> In 1971, Nat Fleischer, a boxing historian and founder of The Ring, named Marciano as the 10th all-time greatest heavyweight champion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1998, The Ring named Marciano as the sixth greatest heavyweight champion ever. In 2002, The Ring placed him at number 12 on the list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. In 2003, The Ring rated Marciano number 14 on the list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. In 2005, he was named the fifth greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007, on ESPN.com's list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time, Marciano was ranked number 14, and was the 5th highest ranked heavyweight, behind (in order) Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson, and Jack Dempsey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Boston Globe ranked Marciano fifth in a list of Top 100 New England sports figures of the 20th century.<ref name="espn.com">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999 Sports Illustrated named him the greatest sports figure from Massachusetts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marciano's punch was tested and it was featured in the December 1963 issue of Boxing Illustrated: "Marciano's knockout blow packs more explosive energy than an armor-piercing bullet and represents as much energy as would be required to spot lift 1000 pounds one foot off the ground."<ref>A picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref><ref>A further picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref>
Marciano was named fighter of the year by The Ring three times. His three championship fights between 1952 and 1954 were named fights of the year by the magazine. Marciano won the BWAA Sugar Ray Robinson Award (then known as the Edward J. Neil Trophy) in 1952. In 2006, an ESPN poll voted Marciano's 1952 championship bout against Walcott as the greatest knockout ever. Marciano also received the Hickok Belt for top professional athlete of the year in 1952. Murray Goodman later recalled that Ray Hickok, founder of the award, also presented Rocky with a hundred miniature boxing gloves, which Rocky was selling a week later for $1 a pair.<ref>In this Corner – Boxing's Legendary Heavyweights (Documentary), HBO.</ref> In 1955, he was voted the second most important American athlete of the year. Throughout his life Marciano remained a beloved hero among the Italian-American community. During the 1950s Marciano received the "Star of Solidarity" from an Italian ambassador. It was the first time the honor had been conferred on anyone outside the Italian government.<ref name="espn.com" /><ref name="Fenton">Template:Cite web</ref> He is viewed as the first true Italian sports celebrity.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>
Marciano has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, most notably the International Boxing Hall of Fame, World Boxing Hall of Fame and National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. His first-ever heavyweight belt is on display at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, along with a bronze sculpture in his likeness. Marciano is one of only three people to have a sculpture at the Hall of Fame.<ref name="Fenton" />
Since 2005 an annual Rocky Marciano festival has been held in Ripa Teatina where Marciano father was from.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1980 there was a monument erected in Marciano's honor in Springfield Massachusetts.<ref name="WWLP-2023">Template:Cite news</ref>
A bronze statue of Marciano was planned for a 2009 completion date in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, as a gift to the city by the World Boxing Council. The artist, Mario Rendon, head of the Instituto Universitario de las Bellas Artes in Colima, Mexico, was selected to sculpt the statue.<ref>Papadopoulos, Maria. (July 10, 2008) Where to put Rocky? – Brockton, MA – The Enterprise. Enterprisenews.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref> After years of delays in the planning stages,<ref>Papadopoulos, Maria. (November 18, 2010) Brockton's Rocky Marciano Statue Committee wants meeting with World Boxing Council – Taunton, MA – Taunton Daily Gazette Template:Webarchive. Tauntongazette.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref> the groundbreaking for the statue was held on April 1, 2012, on the grounds of Brockton High School.<ref>Brockton breaks ground for Rocky Marciano statue – Brockton, MA – The Enterprise. Enterprisenews.com (April 1, 2012). Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref> The statue was officially unveiled on September 23, 2012, which was the 60th anniversary of Marciano winning the world heavyweight title.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A bronze statue of Marciano was also erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to celebrate the birthplace of Marciano's father. Brockton High School's football stadium is also named in Marciano's honor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The school's sports teams are nicknamed "the boxers" in honor of both Marciano and Marvin Hagler the two have also led the city to develop the nickname "The City of Champions".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2019 the city of Newton, Iowa unveiled an informational sign and ceremonial rock honoring Marciano. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also produced a proclamation declaring Aug. 30, 2019, as Rocky Marciano Remembrance Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023, an event titled "Marciano At 100: A Celebration of Rocky Marciano's 100th Birthday" was held at the Des Plaines Theatre in Illinois. The event, hosted by the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, included a screening of the 1979 film Marciano and featured Marciano's 1952 championship belt on display.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There were also other celebrations held in his home state of Massachusetts with Springfield declaring September 1 "Rocky Marciano Day".<ref name="WWLP-2023" />
In September 2025, Marciano's childhood home in Brockton was added to the National Register of Historic Places. His brother, sister and additional family members were on hand for the dedication ceremony held on September 20, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The home now offers a tour featuring memorabilia from his career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In popular culture
Marciano has had two films made on his remarkable rise to the top of the boxing world. The first one titled Marciano came out in 1979 where he was portrayed by Tony Lo Bianco.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999, the film titled Rocky Marciano came out where he is portrayed by Jon Favreau.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marciano's fighting style and name inspired the Rocky Balboa character from the Rocky franchise.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Video games
Marcinao appears as a playable character in the following video games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Ringside Seat |
| 1993 | Greatest Heavyweights |
| 1998 | Knockout Kings |
| 2000 | Knockout Kings 2001 |
| 2000 | HBO Boxing |
| 2003 | Knockout Kings 2003 |
| 2004 | Fight Night 2004 |
| 2005 | Fight Night Round 2 |
| 2008 | Prizefighters |
| 2009 | Don King Boxing |
| 2011 | Fight Night Champion |
| 2023 | Undisputed |
Professional boxing record
Titles in boxing
Major world titles
- NYSAC heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
- NBA (WBA) heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
The Ring magazine titles
- The Ring heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
Undisputed titles
Awards
- Awarded Packy McFarland Memorial Trophy by an association of Chicago boxing writers: 1951<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Hickok Belt (Athlete of the Year): 1952
- Awarded Edward J. Neil Memorial Plaque by the Boxing Writers Association of New York: 1952<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year: 1952, 1954 and 1955
- The Ring magazine Fight of the Year: 1952 Template:Small, 1953 Template:Small, 1954 Template:Small
- Awarded Graham McNamee Memorial Award in 1953 for outstanding contribution to the general welfare of sports.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Halls of fame
- Inaugural member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
- Inaugural member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980
- Inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1976<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Member of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Delicate Delinquent<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself | Uncredited |
| 1960 | College Confidential<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> | Deputy Sheriff | |
| 1970 | The Super Fight | Himself |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951-1955 | The Ed Sullivan Show | Himself (guest) | 4 episodes |
| 1952 | All Star Revue<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself - Guest Actor | 1 episode |
| 1953-1954 | The Colgate Comedy Hour<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself - Boxer | 2 episodes |
| 1954-1956 | Person to Person | ||
| 1956 | The Red Skeleton Hour<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself (guest) | 1 episode |
| 1957 | Captain David Grief<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Mike Riley | 1 episode: Idols of Rapa-Nui |
| 1960 | You Bet Your Life<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself (guest) | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Main Event | Himself Host | Weekly television show |
| 1963 | The Keefe Brasselle Show | Himself (guest) | 1 episode |
| Combat! | Soldier Who Greets Red Cross Truck | Uncredited | |
| 1963-1965 | The Tonight Show Starting Johnny Carson<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself (guest) | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | The Mike Douglas Show<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1 episode | |
| 1965 | ABC’s Nightlife<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| 1967 | The Merv Griffin Show<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> | Himself (guest) | |
| 1968 | The Bob Hope Show<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| 1969 | The Donald O'Connor Show |
See also
- List of heavyweight boxing champions
- List of undisputed boxing champions
- List of The Ring world champions
Notes
References
Bibliography
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External links
Template:Wikiquote Template:Commons category
- Template:Official website
- Template:Boxrec
- Boxrec.com NYSAC World Heavyweight Title Fights
- Boxrec.com NBA World Heavyweight Title Fights
- Boxing Hall of Fame
- Template:IMDb title
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Template:Rocky Marciano Template:Ring magazine Fighter of the Year Template:Sugar Ray Robinson Award Template:Hickok Belt Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Rocky Marciano
- 1923 births
- 1969 deaths
- Accidental deaths in Iowa
- American people of Italian descent
- American male boxers
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- Boxers from Massachusetts
- Catholics from Massachusetts
- International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees
- Rocky (franchise)
- Sportspeople from Brockton, Massachusetts
- The Ring (magazine) champions
- Undefeated world boxing champions
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1969
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
- World heavyweight boxing champions
- Brockton High School alumni
- People of Abruzzese descent