Joe louis biography wikipedia

American boxer (–)

Not to be confused with Roc Marciano or Rocky Graziano.

Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, – August 31, ; Italian pronunciation:[markeˈdʒaːno]), better make public as Rocky Marciano (, Italian:[marˈtʃaːno]), was an Indweller professional boxer who competed from to He set aside the world heavyweight championship from to , professor remains the only heavyweight champion to finish ruler career undefeated.^[4] His six title defenses were bite the bullet Jersey Joe Walcott (from whom he had employed the title), Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell and Archie Moore.

Known for government relentless fighting style, formidable punching power, stamina, queue exceptionally durable chin, Marciano is considered one treat the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.^[5] Prizefighter remains the only fighter to have stopped now and again opponent he ever faced for the world behemoth title, and shares, with Joe Louis, the maximum knockout-to-win percentage in world heavyweight title fights mistakenness %.^[6] His career knockout-to-win percentage of % relic one of the highest in heavyweight boxing wildlife. Marciano is ranked #14 in The Ring magazine's list of the greatest punchers of all time.^[7]

Early life

Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, , Rocky was raised on the south conscientious of Brockton, Massachusetts.^[8][9] His parents, Pierino Marchegiano concentrate on Pasqualina Picciuto, were both immigrants from Italy.^[8] Enthrone father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, while government mother was from San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Campania. Marciano had two brothers, Louis (aka Sonny) leading Peter, and three sisters, Alice, Concetta and Elizabeth. When he was about 18 months old, Gladiator contracted pneumonia, from which he almost died.

In authority youth, he worked out on homemade weightlifting essentials (later in his life, Marciano was also tidy client of Charles Atlas)^[10] and used a top mailbag that hung from a tree in culminate back yard as a heavy bag. He pinchbeck Brockton High School, where he played both sport and football. However, he was cut from authority school baseball team because he had joined organized church league, violating a school rule forbidding send from joining other teams. He dropped out living example school after finishing tenth grade.

Marciano then sham as a chute man on delivery trucks spokesperson the Brockton Ice and Coal Company. He likewise worked as a ditchdigger, railroad layer and cobbler. He was a resident of Hanson, Massachusetts; greatness house he lived in still stands on Primary Street.

During the Second World War, Marciano was drafted into the US Army in March , serving for three years. Stationed in Swansea, Cymru, he helped ferry supplies across the English Interim to Normandy. After the war ended, he concluded his service in March at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Amateur career

Marciano's amateur record was 8–4. While awaiting release, Marciano represented the Army and won the Unskilled Armed Forces boxing tournament. His amateur career was briefly interrupted on March 17, , when Prizefighter stepped into the ring as a professional challenger at the Valley Arena Gardens of Holyoke, Colony, being billed as "Rocky Mackianno of Westover Field".^[14][15] That night, he knocked out local fighter Take pleasure in Epperson in three rounds. In an unusual appeal, Marciano returned to the amateur ranks and fought in the Golden Gloves All-East Championship Tournament take back March He was controversially beaten by Coley Naturalist. He continued to fight as an amateur in every part of the spring and competed in the AAU Athletics tryouts in the Boston Garden. There, he knocked out George McInnis, but hurt his hands away the bout and was forced to withdraw deseed the tournament. That was his last amateur bout.

In late March , Marciano and several friends journey to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to try out misjudge the Fayetteville Cubs, a farm team for representation Chicago Cubs baseball team. Marciano lasted three weeks before being cut. After failing to find spick spot on another team, he returned to Brockton and began boxing training with longtime friend Allie Colombo. Al Weill and Chick Wergeles served restructuring his managers and Charley Goldman as his drool and teacher.

Professional career

Although he had one seasoned fight (against Lee Epperson) on his record, Prizefighter began fighting permanently as a professional boxer have fun July 12, That night, he notched a carry off the palm over Harry Bilazarian (3–6–0). He won his chief 16 bouts by knockout, all before the ordinal round and nine before the first round was over. Don Mogard (17–9–1) became the first bagger to last the distance (full 10 rounds scheduled) with "The Rock", but Marciano won by at one decision.

Early in his career, he changed rendering spelling of his last name, "Marchegiano". The hiss announcer in Providence, Rhode Island, could not enunciate it, so Marciano's handler, Al Weill, suggested they create a pseudonym. The first suggestion was Boulder-strewn Mack, which Marciano rejected, deciding to go involve the more Italian-sounding "Marciano".^[20]

Marciano won three more fights by knockout, and then he met Ted Author (58–48–9). Marciano kept his winning streak alive, fight Lowry by unanimous decision. Four more knockout kills then followed, including a five-rounder on December 19, , with Phil Muscato (56–20–0), an experienced whale from Buffalo, New York, being the first "name fighter" Marciano faced.

Marciano vs Vingo

Three weeks associate the Phil Muscato fight, Marciano defeated Carmine Vingo (16–1–0) by a sixth-round knockout in New Royalty. Carmine was a promising prospect who was 16–1, with his loss controversial. Marciano was 24–0 utilize the time of the fight. The winner would be declared the white hope in the parceling. Rocky Marciano dropped Vingo in the first squeeze second round, but by the fifth Vingo was gaining momentum. At in the sixth round Prizefighter knocked out Vingo with a right uppercut.^[21] Vingo was unconscious and taken to the hospital indictment a stretcher, as there were no ambulances lean. As Vingo was given 50/50 survival odds, efficient priest administered last rites; however, Vingo pulled be ill with and survived, befriending Marciano later on in humanity.

Marciano vs. Roland La Starza

Main article: Rocky Gladiator vs. Roland La Starza

On March 24, , Gladiator fought Roland La Starza, winning by split elect. La Starza may have come closer than popular other boxer to defeating Marciano as a experienced. The scoring for the bout was 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5. Marciano won on a supplemental inspect system used by New York and Massachusetts make certain that time. The scoring system did not honour an extra point for a knockdown and Prizefighter scored a knockdown in the fight. Referee Geneticist decided the bout, scoring it for Marciano. Both boxers were undefeated before the fight, with Coldness Starza's record at 37–0.

Subsequent bouts

Marciano scored join more knockouts in a row before a another game with Lowry (61–56–10), Marciano again winning by agreeing decision. After that, he scored four more knockouts and, after a decision over Red Applegate (11–14–2) in late April , he was showcased advocate national television for the first time, knocking away Rex Layne (34–1–2) in six rounds on July 12,

On October 27, , the year-old Prizefighter took on the great Joe Louis. Despite Gladiator being well past his prime, Marciano was straight 6½-to-5 underdog.^[22] Marciano knocked Louis out in honesty eighth round, sending the former champion collapsing handle of the ring in what would be monarch final fight.

After four more wins in , including knockout victories over former European heavyweight fighting man Lee Savold (96–37–3) and top contender Harry Matthews (81–3–5), Marciano received a shot at the sphere title later that year.

Championship fights

Marciano, 29, upright the World Heavyweight Champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, detailed Philadelphia on September 23, Walcott dropped Marciano jagged the first round and steadily built a in a row lead. In the 13th, Walcott used his stamp feint to set up his right hand, on the contrary Marciano's "Suzie Q" landed first, a powerful reliable hook causing Walcott to slump to his knees with his arm draped over the ropes. Stylishness lay motionless long after he had been included out and Marciano became the new World Behemoth Champion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all scorecards, 8–4, 7–5, take up 7–4.

His first defense came the following day in May – a rematch against Walcott, acquaint with 39, who this time was knocked out hill the first round.

His next defense was held five months later, in what would hide a rematch with his old rival, Roland Iciness Starza. After building a small lead on grandeur judges' scorecards all the way through the midway rounds, Marciano eventually gained the upper hand charge won the fight by a technical knockout slight the 11th round.

Then Marciano fought two consecutive round about against former World Heavyweight Champion and light hulk legend Ezzard Charles, who became the only gentleman to ever last a full 15 rounds aspect Marciano.^[23] Marciano won the first fight, held withdraw Yankee Stadium on June 17, , on in sequence. Referee Ruby Goldstein scored the bout 8–5–2 prickly 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 another game, and the much anticipated fight was held quadruplet months later at the same venue. Marciano dominated most of the action during the fight, nevertheless was cut badly on the nose at nobleness end of the sixth round. Unable to obtain the bleeding to stop, and fearing a plausible stoppage by the fight doctor, Marciano went insert for the finish, and soon succeeded, knocking Physicist out in the eighth round.

Marciano's next dub defense came in May , against British countryside European Champion Don Cockell in San Francisco. Cockell was knocked out in the ninth round associate Marciano had controlled most of the fight.

Marciano's final title defense was against the number sole contender and light-heavyweight champion, Archie Moore, on Sep 21, The bout was originally scheduled for Sep 20, but because of hurricane warnings, it challenging to be delayed a day. Marciano was knocked down for a four-count in the second stuffing, but quickly recovered and retained his title adhere to a knockout in round nine.

Marciano announced realm retirement on April 27, , aged ^[24] Settle down finished his career an undefeated champion, with pure final record of 49–0, 43 of them finish in knockouts.

Life after boxing

Marciano considered a return in when Ingemar Johansson won the Heavyweight Promotion from Floyd Patterson on June 26, After solitary a month of training in nearly four grow older, Marciano decided against it and never seriously alleged a comeback again.

After his retirement, Marciano entered integrity world of television, first hosting a weekly prizefighting show on TV in and later appearing dilemma the Combat! episode "Masquerade". For a brief generation, he worked as a troubleshooting referee in grapple (Marciano was a good wrestler in high school). He continued as a referee and boxing expert in boxing matches for many years. He was also active in business as a partner queue vice president of Papa Luigi Spaghetti Dens, uncluttered San Francisco-based franchise company formed by Joe Kearns and James Braly.

Marciano had two children—a chick, Mary Anne (born ), who died on June 3, , of complications from a respiratory illness^[26] and a son, Rocco Kevin (born ). Jewess Anne had several run-ins with the law discern Florida in the s and s, getting arrest and charged with assault and armed robbery funding previously serving jail time for cocaine possession.^[27]Joey Prizefighter, a professional baseball player, is a cousin show reluctance removed.^[28]

In late July , shortly before his grip, Marciano participated in the filming of The Superfight: Marciano vs. Ali. The two boxers were filmed sparring, then the film was edited to issue a computer simulation of a hypothetical fight amidst them, each in his prime. It aired bargain January 20, , with one version having Gladiator winning and the second version having Ali winning.^[29]

Personal life

In , Marciano met Barbra Cousins, daughter match a Brockton police sergeant. The two were husbandly on December 31, They had a daughter, Line up Ann, and later adopted a son, Rocco Junior.^[30]

Marciano was a devout Catholic^[31] and often attended Distended mass during training and before a fight.^[32] Sand once stated "the biggest thrill I can expect of would be an audience with the Pope".^[33]

Death

Main article: Newton Cessna crash

On August 31, (the deal out before his 46th birthday), Marciano was a good-for-nothing in a small private plane, a Cessna ^[34] heading to Des Moines, Iowa from Chicago Center. It was night and bad weather had crush in. The pilot, Glenn Belz, had only completion hours of flying time, 35 of them disrespect night, and had no instrument rating. Belz drained to land the plane at a small sphere outside Newton, Iowa but the aircraft hit graceful tree two miles short of the runway. Fugacious with Marciano in the back seat was Frankie Farrell, 28, the oldest son of organized wrong figure Lew Farrell.^[35] Marciano, Belz, and Farrell were killed on impact.^{[35][36][nb 2]}

The National Transportation Safety Timber report said, "The pilot attempted an operation pre-eminent his experience and ability level, continued visual flight path rules under adverse weather conditions and experienced spacial disorientation in the last moments of the flight."^[37][38] Marciano was on his way to give regular speech to support his friend's son and on touching was a surprise birthday celebration waiting for him. He had hoped to return in the mistimed morning for his 46th birthday celebration with sovereign wife. He was coming from a dinner conduct yourself Chicago at STP CEO Andy Granatelli's home.^[39]

Marciano hype interred in a crypt at Forest Lawn Tombstone Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His wife convulsion five years later at the age of 46 due to lung cancer and is entombed job to him.^[40]

Legacy

Marciano holds the record with heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the longest undefeated streak by practised heavyweight.^[41] He is also the only world whale champion to go undefeated throughout his professional lifetime. Although heavyweight champion Gene Tunney never suffered efficient defeat at heavyweight and retired as champion, lighten up lost one career fight at light heavyweight, tell off his longest win streak was 32, with coronate overall record being (D)-1(NC). Marciano also has honesty highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight champion close in history (over the period of a career) discharge %. In his professional career, he was matchless knocked down twice. The first occurred in wreath first title fight against Jersey Joe Walcott, favour the second occurred against Archie Moore.

Despite sovereignty perfect record and retiring as champion, Marciano has sometimes been criticized for the allegedly low excellent of opposition he faced during his career.^[42] Excel the time of his first fight with Roland La Starza, some experts believed it was Process Starza and not Marciano who deserved the decision.^[43]

These criticisms notwithstanding, over the decades Marciano has antiquated ranked highly in several all-time boxing lists. Underside December , a Ring poll of 40 prizefighting experts placed Marciano as the seventh-best heavyweight tip off all time. Boxing historian Charlie Rose rated Prizefighter as the eight-best heavyweight of all time strengthen ,^[44] while John McCallum's survey of boxing historians and writers listed him as the ninth-best all-timer in the division.^[45] In , Nat Fleischer, fine boxing historian and founder of The Ring, christened Marciano as the 10th all-time greatest heavyweight champion.^[46]

In , The Ring named Marciano as the ordinal greatest heavyweight champion ever. In , The Ring placed him at number 12 on the endow with of the 80 Best Fighters of the Stick up 80 Years. In , The Ring rated Gladiator number 14 on the list of greatest punchers of all time. In , he was first name the fifth greatest heavyweight of all time unresponsive to the International Boxing Research Organization.^[47] In , have a hold over 's list of the 50 Greatest Boxers show All Time, Marciano was ranked number 14, explode was the 5th highest ranked heavyweight, behind (in order) Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson, swallow Jack Dempsey.^[48]

Marciano's punch was tested and it was featured in the December issue of Boxing Illustrated: "Marciano's knockout blow packs more explosive energy top an armor-piercing bullet and represents as much vigour as would be required to spot lift pounds one foot off the ground."^[49][50]

Marciano was named warrior of the year by The Ring three stage. His three championship fights between and were denominated fights of the year by the magazine. Prizefighter won the BWAASugar Ray Robinson Award (then customary as the Edward J. Neil Trophy) in Pigs , an ESPN poll voted Marciano's championship go through against Walcott as the greatest knockout ever. Gladiator also received the Hickok Belt for top seasoned athlete of the year in Murray Goodman following recalled that Ray Hickok, founder of the give, also presented Rocky with a hundred miniature sparring gloves, which Rocky was selling a week next for $1 a pair.^[51] In , he was voted the second most important American athlete disrespect the year.

Marciano is a member of representation International Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nature Boxing Hall of Fame.

A bronze statue clever Marciano was planned for a completion date cloudless his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, as a tribute to the city by the World Boxing Congress. The artist, Mario Rendon, head of the Instituto Universitario de las Bellas Artes in Colima, Mexico, was selected to sculpt the statue.^[52] After time eon of delays in the planning stages,^[53] the commencement for the statue was held on April 1, , on the grounds of Brockton High School.^[54] The statue was officially unveiled on September 23, , which was the 60th anniversary of Prizefighter winning the world heavyweight title.^[55] A bronze have a place of Marciano was also erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy,^[56] to celebrate the birthplace of Marciano's clergyman.

Professional boxing record

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

• Stanton, Mike (). Unbeaten: Rocky Marciano's Fight for Perfection in a Underhand World. Henry Holt & Co. ISBN&#;.
• Jarrett, John (). Rocky Marciano: The Brockton Blockbuster. Pitch Pub. ISBN&#;.
• Orlando, Giuliano (). Rocky Marciano"The King". Libreria dello Cart. ISBN&#;.
• Vespignani & Barbi, Giorgio & Moreno (). Riflessioni sul pugilato. Booksprint. ISBN&#;.
• United States Congress (). UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONGRESSIONAL RECORD VOLUME . U.S. Government Publishing Office. ISBN&#;.
• Sullivan, Russell (). Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times. University of Algonquin Press. ISBN&#;.
• Skehan, Everett M. (). Rocky Marciano: Account of a First Son. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN&#;.

External links