View source for Rocky Marciano

{{Short description|American boxer (1923–1969)}}
{{distinguish|Roc Marciano|Rocky Graziano}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Citation style|date=March 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Rocky Marciano
| realname = Rocco Francis Marchegiano
| image = Rocky Marciano (cropped).jpg
| caption = Marciano in 1952
| nickname = {{plainlist|
*The Brockton Blockbuster
*The Rock from Brockton
}}
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10|precision=0|out=cm}}<ref>''[[IBHOF]]'' [http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/marciano.html"]; ''[[ESPN]]'' [https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2165594]; ''[[The Ring (magazine)]]'' [https://www.ringtv.com/124537-comparing-fighters-from-different-eras-can-be-perilous/]; ''[[The Guardian]]'' [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/nov/13/forgotten-story-rocky-marciano-muhammad-ali]; ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-02-sp-668-story.html]; ''[[Other Press]]''[https://theotherpress.ca/remembering-the-rock-from-brockton-rocky-marciano/]; ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' [https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/08/23/the-rock-former-heavyweight-champion-rocky-marciano-was-a-tough-fisted-brawler-in-the-ring-and-a-tightfisted-mystery-out-of-it]; ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' [https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rocky-road-to-staying-at-top-of-the-game-20081011-gdsye8.html]; ''[[El Paso Times]]'' [https://eu.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2020/05/16/top-10-heavyweight-boxers-all-time-picked-matthew-aguilar/5204432002/];  ''[[Il Sole 24 Ore]]'' [https://st.ilsole24ore.com/art/SoleOnLine4/Sport/2008/09/rocky-marciano-route66_PRN.shtml]; ''The Boxing channel'' [https://tbc.ib.tv/boxing/this-is-classic/boxing-hall-of-fame-las-vegas-nv-presents-boxing-history-rocky-marciano]; ''NYFIGHTS'' [https://nyfights.com/worldwide/memorial-day-weekend-special-these-guys-fought-the-real-rocky-rocky-marciano/]; ''BOXINGNEWS24'' [https://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/08/rocky-marciano-vs-joe-calzaghe-comparing-the-legends/]; ''Boxing Writers'' [https://boxingwriter.co.uk/2008/09/12/resizing-the-big-men-jack-johnson-the-240lb-killer/]; ''SPORTINGNEWS'' [https://www.sportingnews.com/us/boxing/news/unbeaten-book-review-rocky-marciano-biography/1isbxgtqjfa321xa6gc27gvbx8]; ''THE ENTERPRISE'' [https://eu.enterprisenews.com/story/news/local/2019/08/25/remembering-rocky-50-years-ago/2710527007/]; ''Common reader'' [https://commonreader.wustl.edu/c/rocky-marciano-as-the-real-italian-stallion/]; ''Rodney Ohebesion'' [http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/rocky-marciano.htm]; ''Kids Britannica'' [https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Rocky-Marciano/329116]; ''Boxingnews24'' [https://www.boxingnews24.com/2013/08/the-best-heavyweights-under-6-foot/]; ''Boxeringweb'' [https://www.boxeringweb.net/index.php/rubriche/la-boxe-nella-storia/11260-61-anni-fa-dopo-il-magico-49-rocky-marciano-lascia-la-boxe.html]; ''Igor Vitale'' [https://www.igorvitale.org/la-stupenda-psicologia-di-rocky-marciano-analisi-ed-esempi-di-antifragilita/]; ''Il Guerriero'' [url=http://win.ilguerriero.it/pugilato/articoli/marciano.htm]; ''Il Foglio'' [https://www.ilfoglio.it/sport/2023/09/04/news/rocky-d-abruzzo-la-leggenda-marciano-a-cent-anni-dalla-nascita-5643357/]; ''La Testata'' [https://www.latestatamagazine.it/2023/04/rocky-marciano-il-bombardiere-di-brockton/];
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano: "The Brockton Blockbuster" by John Jarrett. May 15 2018}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Unbeaten: Rocky Marciano's Fight for Perfection in a Crooked World by Mike Stanton. June 26, 2018}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano"The King" by Giuliano Orlando. December 12, 2014}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times (Sport and Society) by Russell Sullivan. August 1, 2002}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Riflessioni sul pugilato" By Giorgio Vespignani Moreno Barbi. December 20, 2012}};
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano - Il cammpione mai sconfitto" By Anthony Valenti. Gennaio 5, 2022}};
*{{cite book |title=Da Rocco Marchegiano a Rocky Marciano - 60 anni di ring. By Ripa Teatina Municipal authorities. September 2, 2007}};
*{{cite book |title=Gli anni di Rocky: Storia dei pesi massimi dal 1942 al 1955 By Maurizio Gandolfi. August 3, 2022}};
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano blues - Una storia in quindici round e dodici battute" By Marco Pastonesi. August 25, 2023}};
*{{cite book |title=UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONGRESSIONAL RECORD VOLUME 154 PART 5. September 2008}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Also reported about 5 ft 9 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Redemption: The Life & Death of Rocky Marciano - Volume 1 by John Cameron, March 2013}}</ref>}}
| reach = 67 in<ref>
*[http://Youtube.com/watch?v=RFUJ3KDjrlI 1966 Rocky marciano interview]; 
*{{cite web |url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2013/08/the-best-heavyweights-under-6-foot/ |title=The best heavyweights under 6-foot|date=August 4, 2013 }}
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano: "The Brockton Blockbuster" by John Jarrett. May 15, 2018.}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Unbeaten: Rocky Marciano's Fight for Perfection in a Crooked World by Mike Stanton. June 26, 2018}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano"The King" by Giuliano Orlando. December 12, 2014}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times (Sport and Society) by Russell Sullivan. August 1, 2002}}; 
*{{cite book |title=Riflessioni sul pugilato" By Giorgio Vespignani Moreno Barbi. December 20, 2012}};</ref>
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|9|1}}
| birth_place = [[Brockton, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1969|8|31|1923|9|1}}
| death_place = [[Newton, Iowa]], U.S.
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| total = 49
| wins = 49
| KO = 43
}}

'''Rocco Francis Marchegiano''' (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969; {{IPA|it|markeˈdʒaːno}}), better known as '''Rocky Marciano''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ɑːr|s|i|ˈ|ɑː|n|oʊ}}, {{IPA|it|marˈtʃaːno|lang}}), 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 [[list of undefeated boxing world champions|finish his career undefeated]].<ref name="TheBoxingChannel">(February 4, 2014). [https://tbc.ib.tv/boxing/this-is-classic/boxing-hall-of-fame-las-vegas-nv-presents-boxing-history-rocky-marciano/ "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 [[pressure fighter|relentless fighting style]], formidable punching power, stamina, and exceptionally durable [[chin (combat sports)|chin]], Marciano is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.<ref name="Greatest Boxer Articles"><!--Hall of fame/Greatest Boxer Lists as grouped ref -->* [[Bert Randolph Sugar]] & [[Teddy Atlas]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=yNItDAPFctEC The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists] Running Press, {{ISBN|0762441674}}
* [https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/greatest/featureVideo?page=greatest1120 ESPN.com, All-Time Greatest Boxers]
* James B. Roberts & Alexander G.Skutt [https://books.google.com/books?id=aA2LO_DGdu4C The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book], McBooks Press, {{ISBN|9781590131213}}
* The [[Mike Casey (sportswriter)|Mike Casey]] Archive [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/casey/MC_Marciano.htm The Cyber Boxing Zone]
* Russell Sullivan [https://books.google.com/books?id=BH4LHMbERT8C Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times], Illinois Press, {{ISBN|9780252027635}}
* International Boxing Research Organization [http://www.ibroresearch.com/2006/09/heavyweight-rankings/ heavyweight-rankings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109100154/http://www.ibroresearch.com/2006/09/heavyweight-rankings/|date=November 9, 2016}}
* International Boxing Hall Of Fame [http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/marciano.html IBHOF Modern Inductees], Rocky Marciano</ref> Marciano remains the only fighter to have [[World heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics#Highest knockout-to-beat-opponent percentage in title fights|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>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Highest_Knockout-To-Win_%26_Knockout-To-Beat-Opponent_Percentage_in_World_Heavyweight_Title_Fights#Highest_Knockout-To-Win_Percentage_in_World_Heavyweight_Title_Fights|title=Highest Knockout-To-Win & Knockout-To-Beat-Opponent Percentage in World Heavyweight Title Fights|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</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)|''The Ring'' magazine's]] list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_100_Greatest_Punchers_of_All-Time! |title=The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time! - BoxRec |access-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322140916/http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_100_Greatest_Punchers_of_All-Time! |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
<!--End of grouped hall of fame refs-->

==Early life==
Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, 1923, Rocky was raised on the south side of [[Brockton, Massachusetts]].<ref name="Biography-2020">{{Cite web|title=Rocky Marciano|url=https://www.biography.com/athlete/rocky-marciano|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=Biography|date=July 23, 2020 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>Casey Sherman & Dave Wedge: ''[https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2018/10/17/peter-marciano/ The Rocky Road of Peter Marciano]''. [[Boston (magazine)|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.[[File:Main Street, Looking North From Crescent, Brockton, MA.jpg|thumb|The Main Street of [[Brockton, Massachusetts]], Rocky's hometown]]In his youth, he worked out on homemade [[Weight training|weightlifting]] equipment (later in his life, Marciano was also a client of [[Charles Atlas]])<ref>[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Muscle-Man.html?c=y "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.{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=32}} He was a resident of [[Hanson, Massachusetts]]; the house he lived in still stands on Main Street.

During the [[World War II|Second World War]], Marciano enlisted in the [[United States Army|US Army]] in March 1943 and was assigned to the [[Engineer Combat Battalion#US units|150th Combat Engineers]], serving for three years.<ref name="CMG Worldwide">{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano |url=https://www.cmgworldwide.com/clients/rocky-marciano/ |access-date=September 20, 2025 |website=CMG Worldwide |language=en-US}}</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 (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for outstanding performance of duty against the enemy from February 7–13, 1945, on the [[Sauer]] and [[Our (river)|Our Rivers]] in [[Luxembourg]] and [[Germany]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kathy |date=September 2, 2018 |title=Rocky Marciano, WWII, US Army (1943-1946) |url=https://www.familyphile.com/celebrity-veterans/2018/9/2/rocky-marciano-wwii-us-army-1943-1946 |access-date=September 20, 2025 |website=FamilyPhile |language=en-US}}</ref> After the war ended, he completed his service in March 1946 at [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]], Washington, where he received an honorable discharge from the Army with the rank of [[Private first class|Private First Class]].{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=39}}<ref name="CMG Worldwide" />

==Amateur career==
Marciano's amateur record was 8–4.{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=73}}  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>{{cite news|work=Springfield Union|location=Springfield, Mass.|date=March 17, 1947|page=7|title=Saint Paul and Tommy Hubert on Arena Card}}</ref><ref name="rockoftime">{{cite book|year=2002|publisher=University of Illinois Press|location=Urbana and Chicago|chapter=Holyoke|pages=9–12|title=Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times|last=Sullivan|first=Russell|isbn=9780252027635|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BH4LHMbERT8C&pg=PA9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BH4LHMbERT8C&pg=PA0}}</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, Massachusetts|Lowell]] and the [[New England Golden Gloves]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 20, 2010 |title=A champion for the ages is born in Lowell |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/ci_15838081/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=Lowell Sun |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano |url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/marciano.html |access-date=September 5, 2025 |website=www.ibhof.com}}</ref> which earned him a spot in the [[Golden Gloves]] All-East Championship Tournament in March 1948. He was controversially beaten by [[Coley Wallace]].{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=69}} He continued to fight as an amateur throughout the spring and competed in the [[Amateur Athletic Union|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.{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=70}}

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.{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=66}} 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 (boxing)|the distance]] (full 10 rounds scheduled) with "The Rock", but Marciano won by unanimous decision.
[[File:Rocky Marciano 1951.jpg|alt=|thumb|Marciano's professional training routine was notable for being extremely strict and physically exhausting<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Bruno |first=Al |date=December 2022 |title=Rocky Marciano's Training Routine Defines His Unbeaten Boxing Legacy |url=https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/people/10103-rocky-marciano-s-training-routine-defines-his-unbeaten-boxing-legacy |access-date=June 7, 2024 |website=www.lagazzettaitaliana.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>]]
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>{{cite web |first=Ed |last=Fitzgerald |date=January 1953 |url=http://www.thesportgallery.com/rockymarciano2.html |title=Rocky Marciano – The Blockbuster from Brockton |access-date=October 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502012324/http://www.thesportgallery.com/rockymarciano2.html |archive-date=May 2, 2009 |work=thesportgallery.com}}</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>{{Cite web|title=Rocky Marciano vs. Carmine Vingo - BoxRec|url=https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky_Marciano_vs._Carmine_Vingo|access-date=November 16, 2020|website=boxrec.com}}</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===
{{main|Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza}}
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>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Sp0VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5608,1297081&dq=rocky+marciano&hl=en 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 (boxer)|Harry Matthews]] (81–3–5), Marciano received a shot at the world title later that year.

===Championship fights===
[[File:Roland La Starza vs. Rocky Marciano 1953.jpg|thumb|Marciano sends La Starza through the ropes during their [[Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza II|1953 title fight]]|240x240px]]
Marciano, 29, [[Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano|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 [[Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott II|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 [[Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza II|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.[[File:Rocky Marciano - 10 April 1954 - St. Paul Armory Wrestling Program.jpg|thumb|Marciano in 1954|left|286x286px]]Marciano then fought [[Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles|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). "[http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2010/jun/05/the-champ-county-to-honor-legendary-boxer-charles/ The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906135422/http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2010/jun/05/the-champ-county-to-honor-legendary-boxer-charles/ |date=September 6, 2015 }}." ''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 [[Rocky Marciano vs. Archie Moore|final title defense]] was against the number one contender and [[List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions|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>{{cite book
 |last = Mullan
 |first = Harry 
 |title = Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing
 |publisher = Carlton Books
 |year = 1996
 |location = London, England
 |page = 81
 |isbn = 0-7858-0641-5}}</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">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016159.html|title=Marciano glorified boxing|access-date=August 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name="skills">{{Cite web|url=https://reemusboxing.com/rocky-marciano-skills/|title=Rocky Marciano Skills|date=October 6, 2016 |access-date=August 25, 2025}}</ref> and lead hook,<ref name="skills"/><ref name="never">{{Cite web |title=Why Rocky Marciano Never Lost a Fight| website=[[YouTube]] | date=March 31, 2022 |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=PjinT0ieVV0|access-date=August 25, 2025}}</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 Defense (boxing style)#Defense|crab style]] blocks including a [[Crab Defense (boxing style)#Cross block|rear cross block]] and a [[Crab Defense (boxing style)#Elbow blocks|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">{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2014 |title=Rocky Marciano - A Crude Phenomenon - Boxing News 24 |url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2014/08/rocky-marciano-a-crude-phenomenon/ |access-date=September 5, 2025 |website=www.boxingnews24.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

His trademark approach was a relentless forward pressure crowding opponents, cutting off the ring, and forcing exchanges. Marciano possessed an unbreakable [[Chin (boxing)|chin]] along exceptional stamina and work ethic kept his pace unrelenting, often breaking opponents physically and mentally.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2023 |title=Rocky Marciano's Boxing Style: An Unbeaten Legacy in the Ring |url=https://bestboxing.net/rocky-marciano-boxing-style/ |access-date=September 5, 2025 |website=bestboxing.net |language=en}}</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 ==
[[File:Tommy Harrison and Rocky Marciano 1953.jpg|thumb|Marciano sparring with Tommy Harrison in 1953]]
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>{{Cite web |last=Lehman |first=Bert |date=2017-06-12 |title=Rocky Marciano, one of the best boxers in history, is fondly remembered in his hometown |url=https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/news/rocky-marciano-fondly-remembered |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Sports Collectors Digest |language=en}}</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>{{Cite book |last=Rocky Marciano |first=Charles Goldman |url=http://archive.org/details/rocky-marcianos-book-of-boxing-and-bodybuilding-1957 |title=Rocky Marcianos Book Of Boxing And Bodybuilding( 1957) |date=1957}}</ref>

Marciano considered a comeback in 1959 when [[Ingemar Johansson]] [[Floyd Patterson vs. 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.{{sfn|Skehan|1977|p=257}}
[[File:Unidentified_man,_boxer_Rocky_Marciano,_Mayor_John_F._Collins,_and_singer_Jimmy_Durante_(10559562993).jpg|right|thumb|Marciano with Boston Mayor [[John F. Collins]] (center-right) and singer [[Jimmy Durante]] (right), 1968]]
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 Confidential (film)|''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>{{Cite web |title=CTVA US Music Variety - "The Ed Sullivan Show" (CBS) Season 8 (1955-56) |url=http://ctva.biz/US/MusicVariety/EdSullivan_08_(1955-56).htm |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=ctva.biz}}</ref>''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]'',''<ref name=":2" />''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson|''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>{{cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/x1009130688/Daughter-of-Brockton-boxer-Rocky-Marciano-dies|title=Daughter of Brockton boxer Rocky Marciano dies at 58|first=Maria|last=Papadopoulos|access-date=May 12, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821130000/http://www.wickedlocal.com/x1009130688/Daughter-of-Brockton-boxer-Rocky-Marciano-dies|url-status=dead}}</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>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-02-15/news/9201080830_1_cocaine-rocky-marciano-father|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530151550/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-02-15/news/9201080830_1_cocaine-rocky-marciano-father|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2013|title=Marciano's Daughter Hit In Losing Fights Drug Conviction Latest Blow For Woman Who Blames Herself}}</ref> [[Joey Marciano]], a [[professional baseball]] player, is a cousin twice removed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/italy-pitcher-joey-marciano-is-related-to-rocky|title=The Team Italy pitcher related to Rocky|work=MLB.com|first=Matt|last=Monagan|date=March 7, 2023|accessdate=March 10, 2023}}</ref>

In late July 1969, shortly before his death, Marciano participated in the filming of ''[[The Super Fight|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>{{cite news |title=Ali vs. Marciano: Who wins?|url=http://www.enterprisenews.com/article/20090901/News/309019646 |work=[[The Enterprise (Brockton)|The Enterprise]] |date=September 1, 2009 |access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Mary Ann, Barbara and Rocky Marciano 1954.jpg|thumb|210x210px|Marciano with his wife and daughter in 1954]]
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>{{Cite news |date=September 10, 1974 |title=Marciano's Widow Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/10/archives/marcianos-widow-dies.html |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Marciano was a devout Catholic<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://listserv.utk.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A3=ind19&L=CSSR&E=quoted-printable&P=812511&B=--_000_DM5PR02MB2299648FBCC9A90C3CF3DEABDD4A0DM5PR02MB2299namp_&T=text/html;+charset=us-ascii&XSS=3&header=1|title=LISTSERV 16.5 - CSSR Archives|website=listserv.utk.edu}}</ref> and often attended [[Catholic mass]] during training and before a fight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/08/why-boxing-was-most-catholic-sport-almost-100-years|title=Why boxing was the most Catholic sport for almost 100 years|date=March 8, 2019|website=America Magazine}}</ref> He once stated "the biggest thrill I can think of would be an audience with the Pope".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BH4LHMbERT8C&dq=rocky+marciano+The+biggest+thrill+I+could+think+of+would+be+an+audience+with+the+pope&pg=PA242 | title=Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times | isbn=9780252027635 | last1=Sullivan | first1=Russell | date=August 2002 | publisher=University of Illinois Press }}</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>{{Cite web |last=Salomone |first=Mario |date=December 30, 2024 |title=Marciano vs. Vingo: From Near Tragedy to a Great Friendship |url=https://boxepunch.com/en/boxing-history/great-fights-of-the-past/rocky-marciano-vs-carmine-vingo-from-near-tragedy-to-a-great-friendship/ |access-date=September 5, 2025 |website=Boxe Punch |language=en-GB}}</ref> Marciano was also friends with many other prominent figures of his era including [[Frank Sinatra]] and [[Dean Martin]].<ref name=":5" />

==Death==

{{Main|1969 Newton Cessna 172 crash}}
On August 31, 1969 (the day before his 46th birthday), Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane, a [[Cessna 172]]<ref>[http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/MarcianoCessna.htm 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 [[Midway International Airport|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 [[Louis Fratto|Lew Farrell]].<ref name="check-six.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/MarcianoCessna.htm|title=Rocky Marciano|website=www.check-six.com}}</ref> Marciano, Belz, and Farrell were killed on impact.<ref name="check-six.com"/><ref name = "Champions 51"/>{{refn|group=nb|When rescuers reached the crashed aircraft, they saw Marciano's body still strapped in a seat. Upon hearing what had happened, people in boxing remembered what was said about [[Stanley Ketchel]] after Ketchel had been shot dead: "Start counting ten over him. He'll get up."<ref name = "Champions 51">{{cite book|title=Boxing The Champions|first1=Ken |last1=Jones |first2=Chris |last2=Smith|publisher=The Crowood Press|pages = 51|year=1990}}</ref>}}

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>[http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=1705&more=1 Thirty Fifth Anniversary Of The Death Of Rocky Marciano] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418180842/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=1705&more=1 |date=April 18, 2012 }}. Eastsideboxing.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-93382.html Rocky Marciano raised money for the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. [Archive&#93; – 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 (motor oil company)|STP]] CEO [[Andy Granatelli]]'s home.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.com/history/time-machine-iowas-connections-to-boxing-superstar-rocky-marciano/ |title=Time Machine: Iowa's connections to boxing superstar Rocky Marciano |work=The Gazette |first=Diane |last=Fannon-Langton |date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=December 9, 2021 }}</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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/MarcianoCessna.htm|title=Rocky Marciano|website=www.check-six.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:EisenhowerRockyJoe.jpg|thumb|Marciano and [[Joe DiMaggio]] visiting President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] at the White House in 1953]]
Marciano holds the record with heavyweight [[Brian Nielsen (boxer)|Brian Nielsen]] for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight.<ref name="nbcsports">{{cite web |date=September 18, 2009 |title=The fans' top 5 greatest boxers of all time |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/fans-top-5-greatest-boxers-all-time#slide-3 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 26, 2021 |work=NBC Sports |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611101454/https://www.nbcsports.com/fans-top-5-greatest-boxers-all-time#slide-3 }}</ref> He is also the only world heavyweight champion to go [[List of undefeated world boxing champions|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>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VcKGH5Oju1gC&dq=la+starza+marciano&pg=PA49 | isbn=9780313379734 | title=Boxing in America: An Autopsy | date=June 21, 2012 | publisher=Abc-Clio }}</ref>

These criticisms notwithstanding, over the decades Marciano has been ranked highly in several all-time boxing lists. In December 1962, a ''[[The Ring (magazine)|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>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/charley-rose-top-10-in-the-8-traditional-divisions.200910/ | title=Charley Rose top 10 in the 8 Traditional divisions }}</ref> while John McCallum's survey of boxing historians and writers listed him as the ninth-best all-timer in the division.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120707091001/http://boxinguniverse.yuku.com/topic/87 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 (magazine)|''The Ring'']], named Marciano as the 10th all-time greatest [[heavyweight]] champion.<ref>{{cite web
 |work = The Ring Online
 |title = Clay An All-Time Top 10? Definitely No!|author=Nat Fleischer
 |url = http://www.thering-online.com/ringpages/boxinghistory.html#clayalltime
 |date = September 1971
 |access-date = January 18, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070113104323/http://www.thering-online.com/ringpages/boxinghistory.html#clayalltime |archive-date = January 13, 2007}}</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>{{cite web
 |work         = International Boxing Research Organization
 |title        = All Time Rankings
 |url          = http://www.ibroresearch.com/All%20Time%20Rankings.htm
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20051221042505/http://www.ibroresearch.com/All%20Time%20Rankings.htm
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-date = December 21, 2005
 |date         = March 2005
 |access-date   = January 18, 2007
}}</ref> In 2007, on [[ESPN.com|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 (boxer)|Jack Johnson]], and [[Jack Dempsey]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/greatest/featureVideo?page=greatest1120 |title=Who's the Greatest? |work=ESPN |last=Mulvaney |first=Kieran |access-date=August 26, 2021 }}</ref> The [[The Boston Globe|Boston Globe]] ranked Marciano fifth in a list of Top 100 New England sports figures of the 20th century.<ref name="espn.com">{{Cite web |title=ESPN Classic - More Info on Rocky Marciano |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/marcianorockyadd.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=www.espn.com}}</ref> In 1999 ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' named him the greatest sports figure from Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports Illustrated the vault Greatest Massachusetts athletes |work=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; SI.com |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/12/27/the-50-greatest-sports-figures-from-massachusetts}}</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>[http://www.kolumbus.fi/Luodes/Rocky1.JPG A picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228150256/http://www.kolumbus.fi/Luodes/Rocky1.JPG |date=February 28, 2008 }}. Retrieved on August 9, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.kolumbus.fi/Luodes/Rocky2.JPG A further picture of Marciano's punch test at Kolumbus.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228150306/http://www.kolumbus.fi/Luodes/Rocky2.JPG |date=February 28, 2008 }}. 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 [[Boxing Writers Association of America|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>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA1XPF4ZM2o&t=1665 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">{{Cite web |last=Fenton |first=Jim |title=Italian Americans pledged allegiance to Rocky Marciano |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/sports/pro/2011/06/10/italian-americans-pledged-allegiance-to/40040234007/ |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=Enterprise News |language=en-US}}</ref> He is viewed as the first true Italian sports celebrity.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Alex |title=At a time boxing ruled the country, Rocky Marciano was king |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/2012/09/22/at-time-boxing-ruled-country/40039163007/ |access-date=September 5, 2025 |website=Enterprise News |language=en-US}}</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>{{Cite web |title=Festival Rocky Marciano – Portale Web Festival Rocky Marciano Città di Ripa Teatina |url=https://festivalrockymarciano.com/ |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=festivalrockymarciano.com}}</ref>

In 1980 there was a monument erected in Marciano's honor in [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield Massachusetts]].<ref name="WWLP-2023">{{Cite news |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Springfield celebrates Rocky Marciano's 100th birthday |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/springfield-celebrates-rocky-marcianos-100th-birthday/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231001164033/https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/springfield-celebrates-rocky-marcianos-100th-birthday/ |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |access-date=September 3, 2025 |work=WWLP |language=en-US}}</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) [http://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x875597641/Where-to-put-Rocky 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) [http://www.tauntongazette.com/archive/x2105639313/Brockton-s-Rocky-Marciano-Statue-Committee-wants-meeting-with-World-Boxing-Council Brockton's Rocky Marciano Statue Committee wants meeting with World Boxing Council – Taunton, MA – ''Taunton Daily Gazette''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929182020/http://www.tauntongazette.com/archive/x2105639313/Brockton-s-Rocky-Marciano-Statue-Committee-wants-meeting-with-World-Boxing-Council |date=September 29, 2011 }}. 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>[https://archive.today/20130122081601/http://www.enterprisenews.com/rocky/x760613880/Brockton-breaks-ground-for-Rocky-Marciano-statue 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>{{cite web | title=Rocky Marciano Statue | url=http://www.brockton.ma.us/Visitors/rocky-marciano-statue | access-date=November 18, 2014 | archive-date=November 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104214037/http://www.brockton.ma.us/Visitors/rocky-marciano-statue | url-status=dead }}</ref> A bronze statue of Marciano was also erected in [[Ripa Teatina]], Italy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italyheritage.com/great-italians/sport/marciano-rocky.htm|title=Rocky Marciano|website=www.italyheritage.com}}</ref> to celebrate the birthplace of Marciano's father. Brockton High School's football stadium is also named in Marciano's honor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Badavas |first=Peter |title=Grand reopening of Marciano Stadium set for Oct. 21 |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/sports/high-school/2011/10/10/grand-reopening-marciano-stadium-set/40023728007/ |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=Enterprise News |language=en-US}}</ref> The school's sports teams are nicknamed "the boxers" in honor of both Marciano and [[Marvelous Marvin Hagler|Marvin Hagler]] the two have also led the city to develop the nickname "The City of Champions".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepard |first=Cody |title=Why is Brockton called the City of Champions anyway? |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/local/2021/02/17/brockton-city-of-champions-nickname-rocky-marciano-marvin-hagler-boston-sports-championships/6762384002/ |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=Enterprise News |language=en-US}}</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>{{Cite web |last=Braunschweig |first=Christopher |date=2019-09-03 |title=Boxing legend honored in Newton |url=https://www.newtondailynews.com/2019/09/03/boxing-legend-honored-in-newton/al8dawg/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Newton Daily News |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, an event titled "Marciano At 100: A Celebration of Rocky Marciano's 100th Birthday" was held at the [[Des Plaines, Illinois|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>{{Cite web |last=Eagle |first=American |date=November 2, 2023 |title=PRESS RELEASE: Onesti Entertainment to Honor Boxing Legend Rocky Marciano |url=https://oshows.com/2023/11/02/press-release-onesti-entertainment-to-honor-boxing-legend-rocky-marciano/ |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=Onesti Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref> There were also other celebrations held in his home state of Massachusetts with [[Springfield, Massachusetts|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>{{Cite web |last=Vasconcellos |first=Marc |title=Rocky Marciano family reacts as childhood home added to Natl. Register of Historic Places |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2025/09/23/rocky-marciano-brockton-house-national-register-historic-places-dover-street-boxer/86311103007/ |access-date=September 29, 2025 |website=Enterprise News |language=en-US}}</ref> The home now offers a tour featuring memorabilia from his career.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2025 |title=Legendary boxer has his Brockton childhood home added to the National Register of Historic Places |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/legendary-boxer-brockton-childhood-home-031925132.html |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</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>{{Cite web |last=Deike |first=John |date=May 7, 2023 |title='Making Faces': The Life and Times of Tony Lo Bianco |url=https://orderisda.org/culture/la-nostra-voce/making-faces-an-interview-with-tony-lo-bianco/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=Italian Sons and Daughters of America |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1999, the film titled ''[[Rocky Marciano (film)|Rocky Marciano]]'' came out where he is portrayed by [[Jon Favreau]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Favreau Finds Rocky Marciano Role A Knockout |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990509/2959541/favreau-finds-rocky-marciano-role-a-knockout |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

Marciano's fighting style and name inspired the [[Rocky Balboa]] character from the [[Rocky (franchise)|Rocky franchise]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Niall |date=March 2, 2022 |title=Who Was Stallone's Rocky Balboa Based On? |url=https://screenrant.com/rocky-balboa-true-story-boxer-sylvester-stallone/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

=== Video games ===
Marcinao appears as a playable character in the following video games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano Games |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/rocky-marciano/3005-31719/games/ |access-date=September 5, 2025 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
|-
|1983
|''[[Ringside Seat]]''
|-
|1993
|''[[Greatest Heavyweights]]''
|-
|1998
|''[[Knockout Kings (video game)|Knockout Kings]]''
|-
|2000
|''[[Knockout Kings 2001]]''
|-
|2000
|[[HBO Boxing (video game)|''HBO Boxing'']]
|-
|2003
|''[[Knockout Kings 2003]]''
|-
|2004
|''[[Fight Night 2004]]''
|-
|2005
|''[[Fight Night Round 2]]''
|-
|2008
|[[Don King Presents: Prizefighter|''Prizefighters'']]
|-
|2009
|''[[Don King Boxing]]''
|-
|2011
|''[[Fight Night Champion]]''
|-
|2023
|''[[Undisputed (video game)|Undisputed]]''
|}

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|ko-wins=43
|dec-wins=6
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|49–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Archie Moore]]
|KO
|9 (15), {{small|1:19}}
|[[Rocky Marciano vs. Archie Moore|Sep 21, 1955]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|48–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Don Cockell]]
|TKO
|9 (15), {{small|0:54}}
|May 16, 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Kezar Stadium]], [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|47–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ezzard Charles]]
|KO
|8 (15), {{small|2:36}}
|[[Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles II|Sep 17, 1954]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|46–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ezzard Charles]]
|UD
|15
|[[Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles|Jun 17, 1954]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|45–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Roland La Starza]]
|TKO
|11 (15)
|[[Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza II|Sep 24, 1953]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Polo Grounds III|Polo Grounds]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|44–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jersey Joe Walcott]]
|KO
|1 (15), {{small|2:25}}
|[[Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott II|May 15, 1953]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Chicago Stadium]], [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|43–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jersey Joe Walcott]]
|KO
|13 (15), {{small|0:43}}
|[[Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano|Sep 23, 1952]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Philadelphia Municipal Stadium|Municipal Stadium]], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]], [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|NBA]], and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Harry Matthews (boxer)|Harry Matthews]]
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|2:04}}
|Jul 28, 1952
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bernie Reynolds
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:21}}
|May 12, 1952
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Gino Buonvino
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:35}}
|Apr 21, 1952
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Lee Savold]]
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|6 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|Feb 13, 1952
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Joe Louis]]
|TKO
|8 (10)
|[[Joe Louis vs. Rocky Marciano|Oct 26, 1951]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Freddie Beshore
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|0:50}}
|Aug 27, 1951
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Boston Garden]], Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.}}
|
|-
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Rex Layne]]
|KO
|6 (10), {{small|0:35}}
|Jul 12, 1951
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Red Applegate|Willis Applegate]]
|UD
|10
|Apr 30, 1951
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Art Henri
|TKO
|9 (10), {{small|2:51}}
|Mar 26, 1951
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Harold Mitchell
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:45}}
|Mar 20, 1951
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, [[Hartford, Connecticut]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Keene Simmons
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|2:54}}
|Jan 29, 1951
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bill Wilson
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|1:50}}
|Dec 18, 1950
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ted Lowry]]
|UD
|10
|Nov 13, 1950
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Johnny Shkor
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|1:28}}
|Sep 18, 1950
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Gino Buonvino
|TKO
|10 (10), {{small|0:25}}
|Jul 10, 1950
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Braves Field]], [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Eldridge Eatman
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Jun 5, 1950
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Roland La Starza]]
|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}
|10
|[[Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza|Mar 24, 1950]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Carmine Vingo]]
|KO
|6 (10), {{small|1:46}}
|Dec 30, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Phil Muscato
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:15}}
|Dec 19, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Pat Richards
|TKO
|2 (8), {{small|0:39}}
|Dec 2, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe Dominic
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|2:26}}
|Nov 7, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ted Lowry]]
|UD
|10
|Oct 10, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Tommy DiGiorgio
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|2:04}}
|Sep 26, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Pete Louthis
|KO
|3 (10)
|Aug 16, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|New Page Arena, [[New Bedford, Massachusetts]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Harry Haft]]
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:21}}
|Jul 18, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Don Mogard
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|10
|May 23, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Jimmy Evans
|TKO
|3 (10)
|May 2, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Jimmy Walls
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:44}}
|Apr 11, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Artie Donato
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|0:33}}
|Mar 28, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Johnny Pretzie
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:46}}
|Mar 21, 1949
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Gilley Ferron
|TKO
|2 (6), {{small|2:21}}
|Dec 14, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Philadelphia Convention Hall|Convention Hall]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"|James Patrick Connolly
|TKO
|1 (8), {{small|1:57}}
|Nov 29, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bob Jefferson
|TKO
|2 (6), {{small|2:30}}
|Oct 4, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Gilbert Cardone
|KO
|1 (4), {{small|0:36}}
|Sep 30, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Uline Arena]], [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bill Hardeman
|KO
|1 (6)
|Sep 20, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Humphrey Jackson
|KO
|1 (6), {{small|1:08}}
|Sep 13, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Jimmy Weeks
|TKO
|1 (6), {{small|2:50}}
|Aug 30, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Eddie Ross
|KO
|1 (6), {{small|1:03}}
|Aug 23, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bobby Quinn
|KO
|3 (4), {{small|0:22}}
|Aug 9, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"|John Edwards
|KO
|1 (4), {{small|1:19}}
|Jul 19, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Harry Bilazarian
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|1 (4)
|Jul 12, 1948
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Rhode Island Auditorium|Auditorium]], [[Providence, Rhode Island]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Lee Epperson
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|3 (4), {{small|0:42}}
|Mar 17, 1947
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Valley Arena Gardens]], [[Holyoke, Massachusetts]], U.S.}}
|
|}

==Titles in boxing==
===Major world titles===
* [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]] [[heavyweight]] champion (200+&nbsp;lbs)
* [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|NBA (WBA) heavyweight champion]] (200+&nbsp;lbs)

===''The Ring'' magazine titles===
* [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight champion]] (200+&nbsp;lbs)

===Undisputed titles===
* [[list of undisputed world boxing champions#Heavyweight|Undisputed heavyweight champion]]

==Awards==
* Awarded [[Packey McFarland|Packy McFarland]] Memorial Trophy by an association of Chicago boxing writers: 1951<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano - Awards And Accomplishments |url=https://sports.jrank.org/pages/3038/Marciano-Rocky-Awards-Accomplishments.html |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=sports.jrank.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Hickok Belt]] (Athlete of the Year): 1952
* Awarded [[Sugar Ray Robinson Award|Edward J. Neil Memorial Plaque]] by the [[Boxing Writers Association of America|Boxing Writers Association of New York]]: 1952<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 10, 1952 |title=Marciano Chosen for Neil Memorial Ring Plaque; NO OTHER NOMINEE PUT UP FOR HONOR Marciano Will Receive the Neil Award for Exemplary Role In and Out of Ring CHOSEN BY ACCLAMATION Champion Becomes the First Undefeated Heavyweight to Be Picked by Writers (Published 1952) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/12/10/archives/marciano-chosen-for-neil-memorial-ring-plaque-no-other-nominee-put.html |access-date=September 3, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Fighter of the Year]]: 1952, 1954 and 1955
* [[The Ring magazine Fight of the Year|''The Ring'' magazine Fight of the Year]]: 1952 {{small|vs. [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] I}}, 1953 {{small|vs. [[Roland La Starza]] II}}, 1954 {{small|vs. [[Ezzard Charles]] II}}
* Awarded Graham McNamee Memorial Award in 1953 for outstanding contribution to the general welfare of sports.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1953 |title=MARCIANO HONORED HERE; Heavyweight Champion Receives McNamee Memorial Award (Published 1953) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/14/archives/marciano-honored-here-heavyweight-champion-receives-mcnamee.html |access-date=September 3, 2025 |language=en}}</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>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano – Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame |url=https://riheritagehalloffame.com/rocky-marciano/ |access-date=September 3, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Member of the [[National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame]]

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Film
!Role
!Note
|-
|1957
|''[[The Delicate Delinquent]]''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano Movies & TV Shows List {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rocky_marciano |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
|Himself
|Uncredited
|-
|1960
|[[College Confidential (film)|''College Confidential'']]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=College Confidential Blu-ray - Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Mamie Van Doren |url=http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film12/blu-ray_review_163/college_confidential_blu-ray.htm |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=www.dvdbeaver.com}}</ref>
|Deputy Sheriff
|
|-
|1970
|''[[The Super Fight]]''
|Himself
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Show
!Role
!Note
|-
|1951-1955
|''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''
|Himself (guest)
|4 episodes 
|-
|1952
|[[Four Star Revue|''All Star Revue'']]<ref>{{Cite web |title=CTVA US Music Variety - "All Star Revue" (NBC) Season 3 (1952-53) |url=http://ctva.biz/US/MusicVariety/4-StarRevue_AllStarRevue_03_(1952-53).htm |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=ctva.biz}}</ref>
|Himself - Guest Actor
|1 episode 
|-
|1953-1954
|''[[The Colgate Comedy Hour]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Classic TV Info - The Colgate Comedy Hour - Season 5 |url=http://www.classictvinfo.com/ColgateComedyHour/Season5.htm |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=www.classictvinfo.com}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |Himself - Boxer
| rowspan="2" |2 episodes 
|-
|1954-1956
|''[[Person to Person]]''
|-
|1956
|[[The Red Skelton Hour|''The Red Skeleton Hour'']]<ref>{{Cite web |last=tfraymond |date=2023-03-24 |title=The Red Skelton Show season 6 |url=https://red-skelton.info/tv/the-red-skelton-show-season-6/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Red Skelton |language=en-US}}</ref>
|Himself (guest)
|1 episode 
|-
|1957
|''[[Captain David Grief]]''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inc |first=Nielsen Business Media |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qR0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Captain+David+Grief+maxwell+reed&pg=PA12 |title=Billboard |date=1957-05-20 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}</ref>
|Mike Riley
|1 episode: Idols of Rapa-Nui
|-
|1960
|''[[You Bet Your Life]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=You Bet Your Life |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/you-bet-your-life/cast/1000120737/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>
|Himself (guest)
|2 episodes 
|-
|1961
|''Main Event'' 
|Himself Host
|Weekly television show
|-
| rowspan="2" |1963
|[[Keefe Brasselle|''The Keefe Brasselle Show'']]
|Himself (guest)
|1 episode 
|-
|''[[Combat!]]''
|Soldier Who Greets Red Cross Truck
|Uncredited 
|-
|1963-1965
|[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson|''The Tonight Show Starting Johnny Carson'']]<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson season 1 Rocky Marciano, Dmitri Vale, Glynis Johns Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-tonight-show-starring-johnny-carson/season-1/episode-147-rocky-marciano-dmitri-vale-glynis-johns/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |Himself (guest)
|2 episodes 
|-
|1964
|''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Marciano |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rocky-marciano/credits/3030060730/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan="5" |1 episode 
|-
|1965
|[[ABC's Nightlife|''ABC’s Nightlife'']]<ref>{{Cite web |title=CTVA US Talk Show - "ABC's Nightlife" (ABC)(1965) |url=https://ctva.biz/US/TalkShow/ABC'sNightlife.htm |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=ctva.biz}}</ref>
|-
|1967
|''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=CTVA US Talk Show - "The Merv Griffin Show" (Synd) Season 4 (1966-67) |url=https://ctva.biz/US/TalkShow/MervGriffinShow_04_1966-67.htm |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=ctva.biz}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |Himself (guest)
|-
|1968
|''[[The Bob Hope Show]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comedian Bob Hope and his Boxing Roots – THE USA BOXING NEWS |url=https://theusaboxingnews.com/?page_id=4050 |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=theusaboxingnews.com}}</ref>
|-
|1969
|''[[The Donald O'Connor Show]]''
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|United States}}
*[[List of heavyweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of undisputed boxing champions]]
*[[List of The Ring world champions|List of ''The Ring'' world champions]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|1|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==

*{{cite book
|last = Stanton
|first = Mike
|title = Unbeaten: Rocky Marciano's Fight for Perfection in a Crooked World
|publisher = Henry Holt & Co
|year = 2018
|isbn = 978-1627799195
}}
*{{cite book
|last = Jarrett
|first = John
|title = Rocky Marciano: The Brockton Blockbuster
|publisher = Pitch Pub
|year = 2018
|isbn = 978-1785313813
}}
*{{cite book
|last = Orlando
|first = Giuliano
|title = Rocky Marciano"The King" 
|publisher = Libreria dello Sport
|year = 2014
|isbn = 978-8861270510
}}
*{{cite book
|last = Vespignani & Barbi
|first = Giorgio & Moreno
|title = Riflessioni sul pugilato
|publisher = Booksprint
|year = 2012
|isbn = 9788867426263
}}
*{{cite book
|last = United States Congress
|title = UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONGRESSIONAL RECORD VOLUME 154
|publisher = U.S. Government Publishing Office
|year = 2008
|isbn = 9780160891816 
}}
*{{cite book
|last = Sullivan
|first = Russell
|title = Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times 
|publisher = University of Illinois Press
|year = 2002
|isbn = 0252072626
}}
*{{cite book
|last = Skehan
|first = Everett M.
|title = Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son
|publisher = Houghton Mifflin
|year = 1977
|location = Boston, Massachusetts
|isbn = 0-395-25356-X
|url-access = registration
|url = https://archive.org/details/rockymarcianobio00skeh
}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.rockymarciano.net/}}
*{{Boxrec|id=009032}}
* [https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/NYSAC_World_Heavyweight_Title_Fights Boxrec.com NYSAC World Heavyweight Title Fights]
* [https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/NBA_World_Heavyweight_Title_Fights Boxrec.com NBA World Heavyweight Title Fights]
*[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/marciano.html Boxing Hall of Fame]
*{{IMDb title|id=0183718}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}}
{{s-bef|rows=4|before=[[Jersey Joe Walcott]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=NYSAC heavyweight champion
|years=September 23, 1952 – April 27, 1956<br>Retired}}
{{s-vac|rows=4|next=[[Floyd Patterson]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|NBA heavyweight champion]]
|years=September 23, 1952 – April 27, 1956<br>Retired}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight champion]]
|years=September 23, 1952 – April 27, 1956<br>Retired}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of undisputed world boxing champions|Undisputed heavyweight champion]]
|years=[[Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano|September 23, 1952]] – April 27, 1956<br />Retired}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Max Baer (boxer)|Max Baer]]<br>Age 50}}
{{s-ttl|title=Youngest world heavyweight champion<br>to have died<br>Age 45
|years=August 31, 1969 – December 30, 1970}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sonny Liston]]<br>{{circa}} age 38 to 40}}
{{s-end}}

{{Rocky Marciano}}
{{Ring magazine Fighter of the Year}}
{{Sugar Ray Robinson Award}}
{{Hickok Belt}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marciano, Rocky}}
[[Category:Rocky Marciano| ]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Iowa]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Boxers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Catholics from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Rocky (franchise)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Brockton, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:The Ring (magazine) champions]]
[[Category:Undefeated world boxing champions]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1969]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]]
[[Category:World heavyweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:Brockton High School alumni]]
[[Category:People of Abruzzese descent]]