# Roland La Starza

Roland La Starza (May 12, 1927 – September 30, 2009) was an American boxer and actor. La Starza was a top rated heavyweight contender in the early 1950s and is best known for his two fights with heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

## Biography
### Early life and career

Born in 1927, La Starza grew up in the Van Nest section of the Bronx. La Starza’s skills for boxing showed early, and he would become a very crafty out-boxer and counterpuncher. He had a very successful amateur career, winning five Golden Gloves titles in New York in 1944 and 1945. He began his professional career on July 7, 1947, and in less than three years, put together an undefeated record of 37 straight victories. This would line him up for a fight with another undefeated, rising heavyweight.

### Fights with Marciano

La Starza and Rocky Marciano met for the first time in Madison Square Garden on March 24, 1950. La Straza fought well, and although the fight went against him on a split decision, La Starza may have come closer than any other boxer to defeating Marciano. The scoring for the bout was 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5, but La Starza lost on a supplemental point system used by New York and Massachusetts at that time (which was awarded to Marciano on account of him scoring the fight’s only knockdown). La Starza felt he was robbed of victory, and even went on record in the New York Herald Tribune, March 25, 1950, as saying, "The fact is [Rocky’s] manager Al Weill was matchmaker for the Garden. I would say that had a lot to do with the decision." He maintained that belief for over 50 years after the bout.
Over the next three years, La Starza fought 18 more times, (lossing on points to Dan Bucceroni and Rocky Jones, before avenging both losses in 1952), and eventually won a heavyweight title eliminator against Rex Layne in early 1953. This set himself up for what would be the most important fight of his career: a world heavyweight championship bout which was also a rematch against Marciano on September 24, 1953. The fight took place in an outdoor venue—the Polo Grounds in New York City. La Starza fought Marciano quite well for the first six rounds, but began to wear down as he took more punishment. Referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight in an eleventh round. Shortly before the fight was stopped, Marciano had knocked La Starza through the ropes. La Starza beat Goldstein's count, but the bout was stopped shortly thereafter on a TKO as Marciano battered the challenger relentlessly. This was the first of only two times La Starza was stopped during his career.

### Later career

Following the title bout, La Starza was hospitalized for injuries sustained during the fight, and required surgery to treat the damage done to his arms. He continued his boxing career but was never the same again. He lost his next match in March 1954 to British champion Don Cockell, and went on to lose half of his subsequent eight fights. La Starza finally retired after his final fight on May 8, 1961. During his over 14 year long career, he fought a total of 446 rounds in 66 professional fights, and won 57 of them with 27 by knockout.
After his boxing career La Starza appeared on television in a number of stereotypical tough-guy roles. His biggest break was a regular role as Pvt. Ernie Lucavich on the short-lived World War II series The Gallant Men. He also did guest appearances on various shows including 77 Sunset Strip, The Wild Wild West and Perry Mason. He appeared in two episodes (13 and 14) of the Batman series of the 1960s, and appeared in movies including Point Blank (1967) and The Outfit (1973).
He, his wife (Jane) and two children (Amy and Mark) left California to retire at their family's cattle ranch outside of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, in 1972.
La Starza died on September 30, 2009, in Port Orange, Florida, at the age of 82.

## Professional boxing record

| 66 fights | 57 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 2 |
| By decision | 30 | 7 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 66 | Loss | 57–9 | Monroe Ratliff | UD | 10 | May 8, 1961 | Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 57–8 | Ike Thomas | TKO | 3 (8), 2:20 | Dec 21, 1960 | Plaza Ballroom, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 56–8 | Danny Logan | TKO | 7 (8), 0:45 | Nov 30, 1960 | Plaza Ballroom, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 63 | Loss | 55–8 | Larry Zernitz | SD | 10 | Dec 1, 1958 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 55–7 | Al Anderson | SD | 10 | Oct 8, 1957 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 54–7 | Jimmy McMillan | TKO | 3 (10) | Jun 11, 1957 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 60 | Loss | 53–7 | Julio Mederos | KO | 5 (10), 1:37 | Mar 2, 1955 | Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 59 | Loss | 53–6 | Charley Norkus | UD | 10 | Dec 1, 1954 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 58 | Loss | 53–5 | Don Cockell | PTS | 10 | Mar 30, 1954 | Earls Court Arena, London, England | |
| 57 | Loss | 53–4 | Rocky Marciano | TKO | 11 (15) | Sep 24, 1953 | Polo Grounds, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 56 | Win | 53–3 | Rex Layne | SD | 10 | Feb 13, 1953 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 52–3 | Rocky Jones | UD | 10 | Dec 1, 1952 | Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 54 | Loss | 51–3 | Rocky Jones | UD | 10 | Oct 9, 1952 | Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 51–2 | Dan Bucceroni | UD | 10 | May 13, 1952 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 50–2 | Joe McFadden | TKO | 5 (10), 2:07 | Apr 18, 1952 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 49–2 | Ralph Schneider | UD | 10 | Feb 13, 1952 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 48–2 | Bill Wilson | KO | 4 (10), 1:46 | Feb 1, 1952 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 49 | Loss | 47–2 | Dan Bucceroni | UD | 10 | Dec 21, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 47–1 | Ted Lowry | UD | 10 | Aug 3, 1951 | Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 46–1 | Gene Felton | KO | 3 (10) | Jun 11, 1951 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 45–1 | Vern Mitchell | TKO | 8 (10), 1:38 | May 4, 1951 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 44–1 | Keene Simmons | UD | 10 | Mar 12, 1951 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 43–1 | Curt Kennedy | TKO | 6 (10), 2:26 | Feb 5, 1951 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 42–1 | Ted Lowry | UD | 10 | Jan 15, 1951 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 41–1 | Duilio Spagnolo | UD | 10 | Oct 20, 1950 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 40–1 | Keene Simmons | UD | 8 | Aug 25, 1950 | Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 39–1 | Georgie Fuller | TKO | 9 (10), 1:50 | May 13, 1950 | Mara's Arena, Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 38–1 | Jimmy Walls | KO | 3 (10), 0:58 | May 1, 1950 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 38 | Loss | 37–1 | Rocky Marciano | SD | 10 | Mar 24, 1950 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 37–0 | César Brion | UD | 10 | Dec 2, 1949 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Walter Hafer | KO | 9 (10), 2:26 | Oct 29, 1949 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Joe Dominic | PTS | 6 | Sep 2, 1949 | Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Jackie Lyons | TKO | 5 (10) | Jul 29, 1949 | Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Harry Haft | TKO | 4 (8), 0:25 | Jun 27, 1949 | Coney Island Velodrome, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Jimmy Carollo | UD | 10 | Jun 9, 1949 | Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Eldridge Eatman | UD | 8 | Apr 28, 1949 | Sunnyside Garden, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Gino Buonvino | TKO | 6 (10), 0:32 | Feb 25, 1949 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Bill Weinberg | PTS | 8 | Jan 14, 1949 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Gene Gosney | TKO | 7 (8), 1:03 | Dec 10, 1948 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Don Mogard | UD | 8 | Nov 6, 1948 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Mike Jacobs | PTS | 6 | Oct 20, 1948 | Jamaica Arena, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Don Mogard | PTS | 6 | Sep 23, 1948 | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Mel McKinney | KO | 4 (8), 1:29 | Aug 30, 1948 | Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Teddy Georges | TKO | 2 (6), 1:16 | Aug 17, 1948 | MacArthur Stadium, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Oscar Goode | TKO | 4 (8,) 1:29 | Jul 27, 1948 | MacArthur Stadium, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Tony Gangemi | UD | 8 | Jul 14, 1948 | Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Benny Rusk | PTS | 6 | Jun 25, 1948 | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Freddie McManus | UD | 6 | May 4, 1948 | Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | John Holloway | TKO | 5 (6), 1:31 | Apr 24, 1948 | Rudgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Claude McClintock | PTS | 6 | Apr 7, 1948 | State Armory, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Steve King | PTS | 6 | Mar 19, 1948 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Jimmy White | KO | 2 (6), 0:29 | Feb 24, 1948 | Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Frankie Reed | TKO | 4 (6) | Feb 14, 1948 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mike Belluscio | PTS | 6 | Jan 30, 1948 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Luther McMillan | PTS | 6 | Dec 23, 1947 | Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Fred Ramsey | TKO | 4 (6), 1:01 | Dec 13, 1947 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Matt Mincy | PTS | 6 | Dec 1, 1947 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Lorne McCarthy | PTS | 6 | Nov 11, 1947 | Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Jimmy Evans | PTS | 6 | Oct 31, 1947 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Matt Mincy | PTS | 6 | Oct 21, 1947 | Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Zeke Brown | KO | 1 (6), 1:04 | Oct 10, 1947 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Jim Johnson | KO | 1 (6) | Sep 9, 1947 | Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Jimmy Dodd | TKO | 4 (6), 3:00 | Aug 25, 1947 | Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Al Zappala | KO | 5 (6) | Aug 12, 1947 | Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Zack Johnson | KO | 6 (6), 0:49 | Jul 15, 1947 | Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Dave Glanton | PTS | 6 | Jul 7, 1947 | Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S. | |

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1962 | Convicts 4 | Duke | |
| 1966 | A Fine Madness | Angie - Sparrer | Uncredited |
| 1967 | The Big Mouth | Jack - Motorcycle Officer | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Point Blank | Reese's Guard | |
| 1970 | Which Way to the Front? | Von Krebs | Uncredited |
| 1973 | Incident on a Dark Street | Sonny | |
| 1973 | The Outfit | Hit Man #2 | |
| 1973 | The Don Is Dead | Mert Shansky | Uncredited, (final film role) |