Rocky Marciano - Suzie Q Tribute (Any Given Sunday Soundtrack) - YouTube Rocky Marciano - Suzie Q Tribute (Any Given Sunday Soundtrack) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 23, 2012 Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1, 1923 -- August 31, 1969) was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go untied and undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times.

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 armour-piercing bullet and represents as much energy as would be required to spot lift 1000 pounds one foot off the ground." Marciano was named fighter of the year by Ring three times. His three championship fights between 1952--54 were named fights of the year by that magazine. 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. In 1955, he was voted the second most important American athlete of the year. Marciano is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. A bronze statue of Marciano was planned for a 2009 completion date in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, to be 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.After years of delays in the planning stages, the groundbreaking for the statue was held on April 1, 2012 on the grounds of Brockton High School. A bronze statue of Marciano has been erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy, to celebrate the birthplace of Marciano's father. The name of the song is Graciosa by Moby from the movie Any Given Sunday Category Rocky Marciano, Boxer • Biography & Facts Rocky Marciano Boxer Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969) was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only person to hold the heavyweight title and go untied and undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott , Roland La Starza , Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell , and Archie Moore .

He has been ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. Rocky Marciano Biography - life, family, children, name, story, wife, mother, son, old, information, born Rocky Marciano Biography Des Moines, Iowa American boxer Boxer Rocky Marciano held the heavyweight boxing title for four years during the 1950s. He is the only boxing champion to ever retire undefeated. His younger years Rocky Marciano was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts. His father, Pierino, worked at a shoe factory. His mother's name was Pasqualena. Rocky would spend much of his life making sure she would not live in the poverty he had known growing up. He worked many different jobs to help his family, including as a dishwasher, in a candy factory, as a gardener, and in a shoe factory. As a youngster Rocky played baseball and football and dreamed of a professional career in one of those sports. He got into many fights when he thought he or his friends had been insulted, but he did not take up boxing until after 1943, when he was drafted into the army.

He took the sport up because it helped him avoid "KP" ("kitchen police," soldiers who assisted the cooks) and other less desirable activities. He showed a natural ability and fought as an amateur following his discharge from the army in 1946. He won twenty-seven of his thirty fights. Baseball dreams In 1947 Marciano had a chance to fulfill his dream of being a baseball player. He was given a tryout with the Chicago Cubs as a catcher. He did not make the team, because he could not accurately throw from home plate to second base due to an arm injury he received in the army. It was the end of his baseball dreams. The following year he turned professional in the boxing ring. By the spring of 1949 Marciano's boxing skills had received attention, after he knocked out his first sixteen opponents. The people he fought were not up to his level, but he learned much about the sport during this period. The quality of his opponents improved over the latter half of 1949 and 1950. Marciano continued to beat all opponents, knocking out most of them.

Proved doubters wrong There were those who thought not much good would come from the 190-pound heavyweight from Brockton in the early days. Goody Petronelli, who was a famous fight trainer, saw one of Marciano's early fights. In a story for Sports Illustrated he said, "I never thought he'd make it. He was too old, almost twenty-five. He was too short, he was too light. He had no reach. Rough and tough, but no finesse [refinement]." The hometown folks believed in him, though. They traveled in groups to Marciano's fights in nearby Providence, Rhode Island, and yelled "Timmmmberrr" when Rocky had an opponent ready to go down. Boxing technique Charley Goldman was the trainer who taught Marciano his trademark technique, which would serve him well as champion. Marciano was shorter than many of his opponents and his arms were not as long. Goldman taught him to use these characteristics to his advantage. He told him to make himself smaller by bending his knees almost into a deep knee squat. This gave his opponents less targets on his body to hit. He learned to punch from that position, coming straight up almost from the floor with amazing power.

Even with what seemed like a physical disadvantage, because of his training and will to win, Marciano turned out to be one of the best-conditioned athletes in sports. Marciano defeats Joe Louis By October 26, 1951, Marciano had thirty-seven wins and thirty-two knockouts under his belt. That was the day Marciano faced his most formidable (challenging) opponent—former heavyweight champion Joe Louis (1914–1981). Louis was past his prime, his best fighting years, and Marciano knocked him out in the eighth round. Marciano had such mixed feelings about beating a man he had considered his hero that he Rocky Marciano. Getty Images . cried in Louis's dressing room after the fight. The fight established Marciano as one of the most famous fighters in the heavyweight division, and assured him of a chance to box for the title before too long. Takes the Belt from Jersey Joe After another five fights he got the chance to go for the title. Jersey Joe Walcott was the defending champion and Marciano was the challenger when the pair met in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952.

Marciano won a victory that is remembered as typical of his tough-guy, never-say-die style. Marciano was behind on points and struggling all night. He would not give up and finally caught Walcott with a short, overhand right to the jaw in the thirteenth round. Walcott was knocked unconscious and Marciano won the championship belt. His years as champion Marciano defended his title only six times, but some of those fights are considered classics by boxing fans. He knocked out Walcott in the first round of their rematch in 1953. He then knocked out challenger Roland La Starza later that year. Marciano won a decision against Ezzard Charles in 1954. He almost lost his title in their rematch later that year. In the sixth round Charles cut Marciano's nose so badly that his cornermen (the people who Marciano had in his corner of the ring) could not stop the bleeding. The ring doctor watched the cut closely and considered stopping the fight, but Marciano came back forcefully against Charles in the eighth round and knocked him out. Marciano defended his title against Don Cockell in 1955 by a knockout.

It was later learned that organized crime tried to get him to throw the fight. Marciano's last fight was September 21, 1955, the third time he defended his title in Yankee Stadium. He knocked out Archie Moore in the ninth round. Over four hundred thousand North American viewers watched the bout on closed-circuit television. Retired from boxing On April 27, 1956, Marciano retired from boxing. He was thirty-one. "I thought it was a mistake when Joe Louis tried a comeback," he told the New York Times in an interview. "No man can say what he will do in the future, but barring poverty, the ring has seen the last of me. I am comfortably fixed, and I am not afraid of the future." He said he wanted to spend more time with his family. Some people have said that he also was upset because he had to pay half of his earnings to his manager. The last years After Marciano retired he made money from personal appearances. He was frugal (very careful with money). He preferred getting rides from friends who had private planes, even though he could usually be given paid transportation to and from any of his personal appearances.

On August 31, 1969, the day before his forty-sixth birthday, he died in a private-plane crash near Des Moines, Iowa. He was survived by his wife of nineteen years, Barbara, and his two children, Rocco Kevin and Mary Anne. Marciano was never among the top boxers of all time in terms of skill, speed, or power, but he knew how to use the skills he had developed and his fans recognized his grit. One sportswriter commented that if all the heavyweight champions of all time were locked together in a room, Marciano would be the one to walk out. For More Information Rocky Marciano Email Rocco Francis Marchegiano [Rocky Marciano] "A hammer instead of a fist, a powerful neck, a fighter's rage. He beat his adversary to blood, then hugged him. A boxing style from the working class, all sweat, no paradise..." Rocky Marciano, aka Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was heavyweight boxing world champion since September 23, 1952 to April 27, 1956, the only athlete in the history of heavyweight boxing to retire undefeated after defending the title six times.

His amazing record lists 49 victories, including 43 by knockout, and no defeats. 20 of 43 KOs came before the third round. By virtue of this, he is considered among the greatest boxers of all time. Many experts believe he was the best boxer in history. Italian biographer Emanuela Audisio writes: "There are some who never give up. There is nothing to do, they do not go down. And if they go down, they get up. You will always find them before you, maybe staggering, blood-filled, ready to step on. Sport teaches you cannot always win... They do not care, do not believe that, and always win: with a broken nose, with closed eye, a blood-red mouth. Rocky was like this. Rough, wild, graceless. His straight right punch was equivalent to a 9th grade Richter (according to journalist Red Smith). His left hook punch was an electroshock. He was not there to lose.

An invincible." The Early Years Rocco Francis Marchegiano was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1923, from Pierino Marchegiano, a native of Ripa Teatina, province of Chieti and Pasqualina Picciuto of San Bartolomeo in Galdo, province of Benevento, two Italian immigrants who left Italy in the early 20th century. In addition to Rocco, the Marchegianos had five other children, three daughters Alice, Concetta, and Elizabeth and two sons, Louis and Peter. At the age of one year old Rocco contracted pneumonia, and even risked death. At 16 years old, thanks to his work on a construction site, he developed a powerful physique, great for practicing boxing. In 1943, aged about 20, he joined the army. After laying down an Australian with a violent right punch during a brawl in a pub in Cardiff, UK, Marciano realized his potential as a boxer and with the help of his uncle Mike, who got him a manager, Gene Caggiano, began his amateur career in the boxing world.

Rocky Marciano's statue in Brockton His career as a boxer During his first fighth was disqualified after a few minutes for incorrectness. He subsequently enrolled in an amateur tournament in Portland, where he got to the final but lost because of a sharp pain in his right hand. He was offered his first meeting as a professional in 1947 by Alli Colombo: Marciano beat Lee Epperson with ease, thanks to his deadly right punch that hit the opponent boxer on the diaphragm. Stocky, slow, technically crude and with a lunge shorter than the heavyweight average (170 cm, the lowest ever in the history of the world champion heavyweight), Marciano compensated for these limitations with aggressiveness (sometimes to the limits of the rules), physical endurance and, above all, with his terrific right punch, which earned him the nickname of The Brockton Blockbuster; he sent to the mat all his opponents, including major, outstanding boxers. His career went on at full speed with all 17 games won by knockout, including one against the dreaded Harry Bilazarian in 1948, a match that Rocky win after about 92 seconds, sending Harry KO with two powerful punches.

Forced to take breaks due to a severe trauma in his back, Marciano returned to the ring against Carmine Vingo, an Italian-American like him but of different physical size, 193 cm tall and with many matches won by knockout. Vingo went down in the sixth round, unconscious, was rushed to the hospital and after that terrible evening was no longer able to fight. Even if Rocky won the match, he too was unconscious and was taken to hospital, where he remained for a few days, though not in a serious condition as his opponent who was in a coma and needed two years to recover, during which Marciano paid Vingo's medical expenses. Later he won twice against Italian boxer Gino Buonvino, in 1950 and 1952. Among his achievements is a knockout victory in the 8th round against "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis - actually already declining - on October 26, 1951 at the Madison Square Garden. Louis has always been Marciano's idol and after the match a true friendship was born between the two; later on Rocky helped the old champion, in both health and financial difficulties - after the latter's retirement.

He won the title of World Champion Heavyweight on September 23, 1952 in Philadelphia, defeating by KO at the 13th round Jersey Joe Walcott, albeit with difficulty and even after going down to the mat during the 1st round. He defended the title 5 more times, winning all of the matches, the last against Archie Moore on September 21, 1955. A Tragical Death On 31st August 1969, just the day before his 46th birthday, he died in a plane crash in Newton, Iowa, along with the pilot of his private plane, a Cessna 172; the flight had departed from Des Moines under very difficult atmospheric conditions. He is buried in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, next to his wife, who died five years later. His father died in March 1972 and his mother in January 1986. Something more personal... He was not endowed with a boxer's body: he was small, with no arm extension, or balance. But he knew his limitations, and worked on them.

He walked a lot, seventy-five blocks from his room to the gym every day. He always ate vegetables, drank very little, only in the evening, carried in his pocket a jar of honey to sweeten his coffee. He chewed his steak, but did not swallow, spitting the meat pieces into a bowl. The only boxer to exercise the pupils, with a pendulum that he had hung on his bed, and followed with his head. He trained 250 rounds for just one fight, a hundred times more than others. Rocky's connection with the Mafia has often troubled biographers. Rocky Marciano knew the mafiosi of course, because the Mob controlled the boxing world. Once he was proposed to sell a match, in 1955, against Englishman Don Cockell, in San Francisco. One of Marciano's close friends, Ed Napoli, recalls he sat with Marciano in a hotel room and listened while a gangster made him an offer. "Rocky, you can be set the rest of your life if you throw this fight, you can beat him in the rematch." the mobster told him. At this, Marciano got angry, and ordered the mobster out.

"You disgust me, I'm ashamed that you're Italian. Get outta here and don't come back." The fight ended in the ninth round, with Cockell crawling in search of the referee's arms. The order came from Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia: "Keep him clean, do not get him dirty." The mafiosi were convinced Rocky had to remain clean, spotless. He was respectful, kissed on both cheeks godfathers Raymond Patriarca, Carlo Gambino, Frank Costello. The Mafia invited Rocky to lunch, advised him tailors, bought him clothes and shirts. He also went to visit Vito Genovese, on the point of death in prison in Leavenworth: Don Vito had asked the favor to see the footage of his matches. The mob guys respected him, loved him because he represented what they really wanted to be, the toughest in the world, the machos. He was a myth for the Mafia, their idol: a macho, a warrior, a paisà. But, more than undefeated, Rocky Marciano left the ring utterly untainted. He retired because it was a promise to his wife Barbara. He got money, women, fame and respect.

It seems he had an obsession for girls, he changed them all the time, compulsively. He had an obsession also for money: only cash, banknotes, not checks. It seems he had three million dollars, all cash, in safe deposit boxes in Cuba, Florida, Alaska. He saved on everything, as many who had known poverty. Rocky Marciano's statue in Ripa Teatina, Italy Awards The International Boxing Hall of Fame recognized him among the greatest boxers of all time. Ring Magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1952, 1954 and 1955. Three of his meetings were named fight of the year by Ring Magazine: 1952 - Rocky Marciano KOed 13 Jersey Joe Walcott I 1953 - Rocky Marciano KOed Roland Starza at the 11th round 1954 - Rocky Marciano KOed Ezzard Charles at the 8th round Marciano is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

A bronze statue of Marciano, by artist Mario Rendon was officially unveiled at Brockton on September 23, 2012, the 60th anniversary of Marciano winning the World Heavyweight title. A bronze statue of Rocky Marciano was erected in Ripa Teatina, Italy, to celebrate the birthplace of his father. Suggested reading and links About: Rocky Marciano About: Rocky Marciano An Entity of Type : athlete , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969) was an American professional boxer who held the world heavyweight title from September 23, 1952 to April 27, 1956. Marciano went undefeated in his career and defended his title six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell, and Archie Moore.

Property abstract Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano; September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969) was an American professional boxer who held the world heavyweight title from September 23, 1952 to April 27, 1956. Marciano went undefeated in his career and defended his title six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell, and Archie Moore. Known for his relentless style, stamina, and an iron chin, Marciano has been ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. His knockout percentage of 87.75 is one of the highest in heavyweight history.

(en) روكي مارسيانو (Rocky Marciano)(وُلد روكو فرانسيس مارشيغيانو (Rocco Francis Marchegiano) في 1 سبتمبر 1923 وتوفي في 31 أغسطس 1969) هو ملاكم أمريكي مخضرم وحاصل على بطولة العالم للوزن الثقيل من 23 سبتمبر 1952 وحتى 27 أبريل 1956، ويُعد مارسيانو البطل الوحيد الذي يحمل لقب بطولة الوزن الثقيل ولم يتعرض للهزيمة أو الخسارة طوال بطولاته الرياضية بمعدل 49 مباراة 49 فوز 43 ضربة قاضية. وقد حافظ مارسيانو على لقبه في ست بطولات. (ar) Rocky Marciano (Massachusetts, EE. UU, 1 de septiembre de 1923 - Iowa, EE.

UU., 31 de agosto de 1969) es el nombre pugilístico (1946-1956) adoptado por Rocco Francis Marchegiano, nacido en Brockton, Massachusetts, italo-estadounidense. Fue un boxeador estadounidense de origen italiano que se retiró invicto, siendo el único campeón de boxeo de los pesos pesados que no conoció la derrota. También se mantuvo invicto en su época de boxeador en el ejército (1944-1946). Marciano tiene un impresionante registro de 43 nocauts, equivalente al 87,76%, de sus peleas, pese a su estilo de boxeo algo heterodoxo, como "agazapado".

Rocco fue campeón mundial de la categoría de los pesos pesados de boxeo en el periodo que transcurrió desde el 23 de septiembre de 1952 (cuando conquistó el título frente a Jersey Joe Walcott) al 30 de noviembre de 1956 día en el que, con casi 33 años, anunció su retirada después de defender el título en seis ocasiones. Su altura fue de 180.3 cm (5 pies 11 pulgadas), y su peso de 82-88 kg (176-193 lb). La International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) lo ha clasificado entre los 10 mejores pesos pesados de la historia. (es) Rocky Marciano, eigentlich Rocco Francis Marchegiano, (* 1. September 1923 in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA; † 31. August 1969 in der Nähe von Newton, Iowa) war ein italo-amerikanischer Boxer. Insgesamt konnte er 87,76 % seiner Gegner vorzeitig besiegen, er erreicht somit die höchste K.

o.-Quote aller Schwergewichtsweltmeister in der Geschichte des Profiboxens. Er beendete seine Karriere als erster ungeschlagener Schwergewichts-Boxweltmeister und gilt daher und aufgrund seiner hohen K. o.-Quote als einer der erfolgreichsten Boxer in der Geschichte dieses Sports. (de) Rocky Marciano, de son vrai nom Rocco Francis Marchegiano, est un boxeur américain né le et mort le . Il est le premier blanc à reprendre la couronne des poids lourds aux afro-américains le 23 septembre 1952, titre qu’il conserve jusqu’au 30 novembre 1956. Avec quarante-trois K.O. à son actif, il est le seul champion du monde de cette catégorie à avoir accompli une carrière professionnelle sans aucune défaite.

(fr) Ritenuto il migliore pugile di tutti i tempi, fu campione del mondo dei pesi massimi dal 23 settembre 1952 al 27 aprile 1956 e fu l'unico peso massimo della storia a ritirarsi imbattuto, difendendo il titolo sei volte. Tra le sue 43 vittorie per KO figurano quelle contro pugili del calibro di Roland La Starza, Jersey Joe Walcott e Joe Louis. (it) ロッキー・マルシアノ（Rocky Marciano、1923年9月1日 - 1969年8月31日）は、アメリカ合衆国のプロボクサー。マサチューセッツ州ブロックトン出身。本名はロッコ・フランシス・マルケジャーノ。イタリア系アメリカ人。 (ja) Rocky Marciano, właśc. Rocco Francis Marchegiano (ur. 1 września 1923 w Brockton, zm.

31 sierpnia 1969) – amerykański bokser, pierwszy niepokonany mistrz świata wagi ciężkiej (1952-1956) z bilansem 49 wygranych walk na 49 pojedynków (w tym 43 przez nokaut). Jego kariera bokserska trwała od 1946 do 1956 roku. (pl) Rocco Francis Marchegiano (Brockton (Massachusetts), 1 september 1923 – nabij Newton (Iowa), 31 augustus 1969), beter bekend als Rocky Marciano of The Brockton Blockbuster, was een Amerikaans bokser, die wereldkampioen (23-9-1952 tot 30-11-1956) werd en als enige zwaargewicht kampioen ongeslagen was toen hij zijn carrière beëindigde. Hij stierf bij een vliegtuigongeluk.

(nl) Rocco Francis Marchegiano, ou apenas Rocky Marciano (Brockton, Massachusetts, 1 de setembro de 1923 — Des Moines, Iowa, 31 de agosto de 1969) foi um lutador de boxe estadunidense. É considerado um dos melhores lutadores de todos os tempos e categorias, junto de, entre outros, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, George Foreman e Evander Holyfield. Conhecido por seus golpes potentes, Marciano nunca perdeu uma luta sequer enquanto esteve nos ringues. Somou 49 vitórias em 49 lutas em sua carreira, sendo 43 por nocaute, marca nunca superada até hoje. Rocky ficou conhecido também por nunca subestimar nenhum de seus adversários, pelo jeito humilde e modesto.

Vale lembrar que Rocky foi o último branco campeão dos pesos pesados por um bom tempo, após sua carreira ter terminado iniciou-se a supremacia afro-descendente nos ringues que durou até a chegada de Tommy Morrison nos anos 1990, e posteriormente, dos irmãos Vitali e Wladimir Klitschko, que unificaram os títulos mundiais. Em sua carreira praticamente perfeita ficou com o título de 23 de Setembro de 1952 até 30 de Novembro de 1956, quando se aposentou do boxe, sem nunca sentir o gosto de uma derrota ou empate. Fora das quatro cordas do ringue, o lutador inspirou os famosos filmes da série "Rocky", de Sylvester Stallone (inclusive com o primeiro filme "Rocky" ganhando o Oscar de Melhor Filme em 1977). (pt) Рокки Марчиано (англ.

Rocky Marciano — на английском произносится Рокки Марсиано, настоящее имя Рокко Фрэнсис Маркеджиано, англ. Rocco Francis Marchegiano; 1 сентября 1923, Броктон, штат Массачусетс, США — 31 августа 1969, Де-Мойн, штат Айова, США) — американский боксёр-профессионал, чемпион мира в тяжелом весе с 23 сентября 1952 года по 30 ноября 1956 года.Единственный боксер-тяжеловес с титулом, ни разу не потерпевший поражение на профессиональном ринге в 49 проведённых боях.

Является одним из прототипов Рокки Бальбоа — главного героя фильмов «Рокки», «Рокки 2», «Рокки 3», «Рокки 4», «Рокки 5», «Рокки Бальбоа» и «Крид: Наследие Рокки», которого сыграл Сильвестр Сталлоне.После окончания профессиональной карьеры — удачливый бизнесмен.

(ru) 洛基·馬西安諾（英语：Rocky Marciano，1923年9月1日－1969年8月31日）是1952年到1956年間的世界重量級拳王。生涯戰績49勝0敗0平手，他是拳擊史上唯一一位生涯全勝的世界重量級拳王，也被公認為史上最偉大拳手之一。 (zh) comment روكي مارسيانو (Rocky Marciano)(وُلد روكو فرانسيس مارشيغيانو (Rocco Francis Marchegiano) في 1 سبتمبر 1923 وتوفي في 31 أغسطس 1969) هو ملاكم أمريكي مخضرم وحاصل على بطولة العالم للوزن الثقيل من 23 سبتمبر 1952 وحتى 27 أبريل 1956، ويُعد مارسيانو البطل الوحيد الذي يحمل لقب بطولة الوزن الثقيل ولم يتعرض للهزيمة أو الخسارة طوال بطولاته الرياضية بمعدل 49 مباراة 49 فوز

 43 ضربة قاضية.

وقد حافظ مارسيانو على لقبه في ست بطولات. (ar) Rocky Marciano, eigentlich Rocco Francis Marchegiano, (* 1. September 1923 in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA; † 31. August 1969 in der Nähe von Newton, Iowa) war ein italo-amerikanischer Boxer. Insgesamt konnte er 87,76 % seiner Gegner vorzeitig besiegen, er erreicht somit die höchste K. o.-Quote aller Schwergewichtsweltmeister in der Geschichte des Profiboxens. Er beendete seine Karriere als erster ungeschlagener Schwergewichts-Boxweltmeister und gilt daher und aufgrund seiner hohen K. o.-Quote als einer der erfolgreichsten Boxer in der Geschichte dieses Sports.

(de) Ritenuto il migliore pugile di tutti i tempi, fu campione del mondo dei pesi massimi dal 23 settembre 1952 al 27 aprile 1956 e fu l'unico peso massimo della storia a ritirarsi imbattuto, difendendo il titolo sei volte. Tra le sue 43 vittorie per KO figurano quelle contro pugili del calibro di Roland La Starza, Jersey Joe Walcott e Joe Louis. (it) Rocco Francis Marchegiano - famous Heavyweight boxing star born in United States Rocco Francis Marchegiano Nick Name: The Brockton Blockbuster, The Rock from Brockton DOB : 1st September 1923 Height : 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m Weighted At : Heavyweight Stance : Orthodox Reach : 68 in (173 cm) Rocky Marciano was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956.

Marciano is the only person to hold the heavyweight title and go untied and undefeated throughout his career. In his youth, he played baseball with his brother Sonny and David Rooslet, worked out on homemade weightlifting equipment and used a stuffed mailbag that hung from a tree in his back yard as a heavy bag. In March 1943, Marciano was drafted into the army for a term of two years. Stationed in Swansea, Wales, he helped ferry supplies across the English Channel to Normandy. After the war ended, he completed his service in March 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington. RELATED BOXERS Rocky Marciano facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Rocky Marciano American boxer R ocky Marciano is the only heavyweight boxing champion ever to retire without being defeated. With a perfect 49-0 record—which included forty-three knockouts—he started his professional boxing career in 1947, and reigned as champion from 1952 until his retirement in 1956. He ranks among boxing's greats, along with such notables as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis (whom he defeated the year before becoming world champion), and Jack Dempsey .

First a Baseball Player Rocco Francis Marchegiano, the future Rocky Marciano, was born on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts, the son of working class parents. An immigrant from Italy, his father worked in a shoe factory. This factory made a big impression on the young Marciano. It was Marciano's job in the family to take lunch to his father at work each day, and there he saw first-hand the toll factory work took on the people who worked there. Marciano vowed that he would never make his living that way. In high school, Marciano excelled in sports. He played on the Brockton High football team as a linebacker, once intercepting a pass and running sixty-seven yards for a touchdown. His dreams were of baseball, however, and he planned to become a professional player after he dropped out of school at the age of sixteen. He worked in blue-collar jobs, including a two month stint at the shoe factory, while he trained to become a professional baseball player. His fledgling baseball career was interrupted, however, when the United States entered World War II at the end of 1942.

Drafted into the army in 1943, Marciano discovered the sport that was to be his career when he took up boxing to avoid kitchen duty. After serving in Wales and at Ft. Lewis, Washington with the 150th Combat Engineers, Marciano was discharged following the close of the war. He worked at odd jobs to support himself while he pursued a career in baseball. His hard work paid off when he landed a tryout with the Chicago Cubs as a catcher and first baseman. But he failed to make he team after a throw from home plate to second base fell short. Commits to Boxing Returning to boxing, Marciano began to make a name for himself on the amateur circuit, quickly becoming known as a hard-hitting, if somewhat awkward fighter. He became a professional boxer in 1947. Managed first by a mechanic from his home town, he soon realized the need to place himself in the care of a well-known professional if he wanted to advanced his career. He switched to the management of Al Weill, a promoter from New York who was to remain his manager throughout his career. It was the right move.

Weill introduced Marciano to famous trainer Charlie Goldman, who helped Marciano hone what was to become his signature fighting style, and made him into a true professional. At five feet, eleven inches, about 185 points, and with the shortest arms of any heavyweight champion in the modern era, Marciano also tended to slouch, and was not particularly agile. But he packed a powerful punch, and that's what Goldman trained him to focus on. He also taught him to emphasize his small stature, crouching low to avoid his opponents' own punches, and moving in with powerful right punches and left hooks. Marciano also developed the ability to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment, often coming back from blows that would have finished a lesser fighter, to knock his opponents out. Broken hands, back injuries, and countless facial cuts all were meted out to Marciano during the course of his career. Chronology Dies in a small plane crash outside De Moines, Iowa 1990 Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame With Weill and Goldman's help, Marciano's career took off. He knocked out the first sixteen opponents he faced in professional bouts, steadily moving up through the boxing ranks to face stronger and more skilled opponents.

Maricano continued to prove his mettle through 1949, winning all of his fights, more than half of them by knockouts. Marciano knew that he had a chance to fight for the title of heavyweight champion of the world after he defeated Roland LaStarza on March 24, 1949. The fight lasted ten rounds, and was called Marciano's in a close decision. He received national attention after a fight with Carmine Vingo on December 20, 1949 in which Marciano seriously injured his opponent when he knocked him out. At the Top of His Game Marciano married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara M. Cousins on the last day of 1950. The couple eventually had one child of their own, Mary Anne, and adopted another, Rocky Kevin. Back in the ring soon after the wedding, Marciano continued his climb through the boxing ranks, fighting more and more powerful opponents, including Red Layne, whom he knocked out in six rounds on July 12, 1951. Marciano faced his most powerful opponent yet when he squared off against former world champion Joe Louis on October 26, 1951.

Louis was one of Marciano's idols, but at the end of his career, and Marciano, with thirty-seven wins to his credit so far, including thirty-two knockouts, was in his prime. The former champion went down under Marciano's onslaught in eight rounds. It happened after Marciano got Louis against the ropes, and managed to slip in a powerful left hook. Louis was stunned, dropping his guard, and Marciano immediately followed up with a right that knocked his hero out. "Imagine looking at Joe Louis lying there on the ropes," he was quoted as saying afterward by Newsweek. "And I did it. I don't know if I'm happy about it." So distraught was Marciano at felling his hero that he cried in the exchampion's dressing room after the match. The fight with Louis cleared the way for a championship bout with the heavyweight champion of the world, 'Jersey' Joe Walcott in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952. Marciano got off to a bad start in the first round when he was knocked down.

Off balance from then on, and behind on points, he got in one of his bynow-famous right hand punches to the jaw, flooring Walcott and knocking him out in the thirteenth round. An Unbeatable Champion With his defeat of Walcott, Marciano became the first white heavyweight boxing champion since 1937. He defended his title six times, winning each time. The first was in a rematch with Walcott on May 15, 1953, a bout he won handily with a knockout in the first round. He next faced his old adversary Roland LaStarza on September 24, 1953, and won in eleven rounds, putting LaStarza in the hospital for several days. LaStarza said afterwards that he wished Marciano had just knocked him out to end it instead of working him over for so long. A fifteen-round fight with former champion Ezzard Charles followed on June 17, 1954. Marciano won that match in a decision, and the two faced each other again later that year, on September 17, 1954.

Charles got the better of Marciano in the sixth round, battering his nose so badly that Marciano's cornermen were unable to staunch the bleeding. The ring doctor very nearly called the fight, but Marciano rallied in the eighth round, knocking out his opponent. Marciano's next title fight was against Don Cockell on May 16, 1955. In spite of pressure from organized crime elements to throw the fight, Marciano won it in a knockout in the ninth round, and moved on to what was to be his last title fight, on September 21, 1955. The bout took place at Yankee Stadium, and it was the third time he had defended his title there. His opponent was former light-heavyweight champion Archie Moore . Marciano knocked him out in nine rounds. The fight was witnessed by more than 400,000 people watching via the fairly new medium of television. Awards and Accomplishments In his nine years as a professional boxer, Marciano was never defeated, winning all of his forty-nine bouts, an astonishing forty-three of them in knockouts. He is the only heavyweight boxing champion to retire completely undefeated.

1948 Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame Rocky Marciano Although no theatrical-release films have been yet been made about the life of Rocky Marciano, the Showtime cable TV network aired a dramatic interpretation of the famous fighter's life in 1999. Called Rocky Marciano, the 100-minute program featured Jon Favreau in the title role, and the great George C. Scott in one of his final roles, as Marciano's father. Not praised for its brilliant acting or quality of writing, Rocky Marciano nevertheless distinguished itself by presenting a reasonably accurate portrayal of the boxer's beginnings, his rise to fame, and his post-boxing years. Of particular note was a lavish, stylized treatment of Marciano's fight with Joe Louis, mournfully underscored by the music of Samuel Barber. The program was directed by Charles Winkler, and written by Winkler with William Nack, Lary Golin, and Dick Beebe. Rocky Marciano was later released on video. A Life Cut Short The champion retired from boxing in 1956, when he was 31 years old.

His record between 1947 and 1956 of forty-nine victories to zero losses included forty-three knockouts. Weary of training, and with tension rising between him and his manager, Al Weill (his arrangement with Weill required him to split all of his earnings 50-50), Marciano welcomed the opportunity to spend more time with his family. A careful manager of his own money, Marciano was set for life with a four million dollar fortune, and did not want to go out with a whimper as other champions had done, by continuing to fight past his prime. He did nearly succumb to temptation to stage a comeback in 1959, and spent a month training in secret before thinking better of it. Now the only heavyweight boxing champion to retire completely undefeated, Marciano spent the next ten years making personal appearances. He died on the night of August 31, 1969 when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed outside of Des Moines , Iowa. He died one day shy of his 46th birthday. He was survived by his wife Barbara—to whom he had been married for nineteen years—and his two children, Rocco Kevin, and Mary Anne.

He was said to have had many close friends and to be a loving husband and father, but nevertheless to be extremely secretive about his post-boxing business dealings. He died without making a will, and without revealing where he had placed much of his fortune. Somewhat awkward, not noted for his speed or agility, Marciano nevertheless overcame his opponents through sheer drive, determination, and the power of his punches. He remains today the only heavyweight champion boxer to retire completely undefeated. FURTHER INFORMATION Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 8: 1966-1970. New York: American Council of Learned Societies, 1988. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. Detroit : Gale Group, 1998. Periodicals Anderson, Dave. "The Last Great White Hope." New York Times (September 15, 2002): section 7, p. 21. "Rocky Drops His Idol, Gender Politics on Center Court." Newsweek (October 25, 1999): 61. Other "Rocky Marciano." American Decades CD-ROM. Detroit: Gale Group, 1998.

"Rocky Marciano." Apollo Movie Guide. (October 30, 2002). "Rocky Marciano." Cyber Boxing Zone. (October 15, 2002). "Rocky Marciano." International Boxing Hall of Fame. (October 15, 2002). "Rocky Marciano." Internet Movie Database. (October 30, 2002). Sketch by Michael Belfiore Des Moines , Iowa American boxer Boxer Rocky Marciano held the heavyweight boxing title for four years during the 1950s. He is the only boxing champion to ever retire undefeated. His younger years Rocky Marciano was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts. His father, Pierino, worked at a shoe factory. His mother's name was Pasqualena. Rocky would spend much of his life making sure she would not live in the poverty he had known growing up. He worked many different jobs to help his family, including as a dishwasher, in a candy factory, as a gardener, and in a shoe factory.

As a youngster Rocky played baseball and football and dreamed of a professional career in one of those sports. He got into many fights when he thought he or his friends had been insulted, but he did not take up boxing until after 1943, when he was drafted into the army. He took the sport up because it helped him avoid "KP" ("kitchen police," soldiers who assisted the cooks) and other less desirable activities. He showed a natural ability and fought as an amateur following his discharge from the army in 1946. He won twenty-seven of his thirty fights. Baseball dreams In 1947 Marciano had a chance to fulfill his dream of being a baseball player. He was given a tryout with the Chicago Cubs as a catcher. He did not make the team, because he could not accurately throw from home plate to second base due to an arm injury he received in the army. It was the end of his baseball dreams. The following year he turned professional in the boxing ring. By the spring of 1949 Marciano's boxing skills had received attention, after he knocked out his first sixteen opponents.

The people he fought were not up to his level, but he learned much about the sport during this period. The quality of his opponents improved over the latter half of 1949 and 1950. Marciano continued to beat all opponents, knocking out most of them. Proved doubters wrong There were those who thought not much good would come from the 190-pound heavyweight from Brockton in the early days. Goody Petronelli, who was a famous fight trainer, saw one of Marciano's early fights. In a story for Sports Illustrated he said, "I never thought he'd make it. He was too old, almost twenty-five. He was too short, he was too light. He had no reach. Rough and tough, but no finesse [refinement]." The hometown folks believed in him, though. They traveled in groups to Marciano's fights in nearby Providence, Rhode Island , and yelled "Timmmmberrr" when Rocky had an opponent ready to go down. Boxing technique Charley Goldman was the trainer who taught Marciano his trademark technique, which would serve him well as champion. Marciano was shorter than many of his opponents and his arms were not as long.

Goldman taught him to use these characteristics to his advantage. He told him to make himself smaller by bending his knees almost into a deep knee squat. This gave his opponents less targets on his body to hit. He learned to punch from that position, coming straight up almost from the floor with amazing power. Even with what seemed like a physical disadvantage, because of his training and will to win, Marciano turned out to be one of the best-conditioned athletes in sports. Marciano defeats Joe Louis By October 26, 1951, Marciano had thirty-seven wins and thirty-two knockouts under his belt. That was the day Marciano faced his most formidable (challenging) opponent—former heavyweight champion Joe Louis (1914–1981). Louis was past his prime, his best fighting years, and Marciano knocked him out in the eighth round. Marciano had such mixed feelings about beating a man he had considered his hero that he cried in Louis's dressing room after the fight. The fight established Marciano as one of the most famous fighters in the heavyweight division, and assured him of a chance to box for the title before too long.

Takes the Belt from Jersey Joe After another five fights he got the chance to go for the title. Jersey Joe Walcott was the defending champion and Marciano was the challenger when the pair met in Philadelphia on September 23, 1952. Marciano won a victory that is remembered as typical of his tough-guy, never-say-die style. Marciano was behind on points and struggling all night. He would not give up and finally caught Walcott with a short, overhand right to the jaw in the thirteenth round. Walcott was knocked unconscious and Marciano won the championship belt. His years as champion Marciano defended his title only six times, but some of those fights are considered classics by boxing fans. He knocked out Walcott in the first round of their rematch in 1953. He then knocked out challenger Roland La Starza later that year. Marciano won a decision against Ezzard Charles in 1954. He almost lost his title in their rematch later that year. In the sixth round Charles cut Marciano's nose so badly that his cornermen (the people who Marciano had in his corner of the ring) could not stop the bleeding.

The ring doctor watched the cut closely and considered stopping the fight, but Marciano came back forcefully against Charles in the eighth round and knocked him out. Marciano defended his title against Don Cockell in 1955 by a knockout. It was later learned that organized crime tried to get him to throw the fight. Marciano's last fight was September 21, 1955, the third time he defended his title in Yankee Stadium. He knocked out Archie Moore in the ninth round. Over four hundred thousand North American viewers watched the bout on closed-circuit television. Retired from boxing On April 27, 1956, Marciano retired from boxing. He was thirty-one. "I thought it was a mistake when Joe Louis tried a comeback," he told the New York Times in an interview. "No man can say what he will do in the future, but barring poverty, the ring has seen the last of me. I am comfortably fixed, and I am not afraid of the future." He said he wanted to spend more time with his family. Some people have said that he also was upset because he had to pay half of his earnings to his manager. The last years After Marciano retired he made money from personal appearances.

He was frugal (very careful with money). He preferred getting rides from friends who had private planes, even though he could usually be given paid transportation to and from any of his personal appearances. On August 31, 1969, the day before his forty-sixth birthday, he died in a private-plane crash near Des Moines, Iowa. He was survived by his wife of nineteen years, Barbara, and his two children, Rocco Kevin and Mary Anne. Marciano was never among the top boxers of all time in terms of skill, speed, or power, but he knew how to use the skills he had developed and his fans recognized his grit. One sportswriter commented that if all the heavyweight champions of all time were locked together in a room, Marciano would be the one to walk out. For More Information Skehan, Everett M. Rocky Marciano: The Biography of a First Son. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1977. Sullivan, Russell. Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2002. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA TogetherWeServed - Sgt Rocco Francis Marchegiano Additional Information Last Known Activity Rocky Marciano was born on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts. He started fighting as a professional boxer in 1948, winning a fight against Harry Bilizarian. He then went on to win his first 16 fights. In 1952, he beat Jersey Joe Walcott for the world heavyweight championship. Marciano defended his title six times. He retired in 1956 and died on August 31, 1969, near Newton, Iowa. Early Life American professional boxer and world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano was born as Rocco Francis Marchegianon on September 1, 1923 in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Italian immigrants Pierino Marchegiano and Pasqualina Picciuto. Marciano and his three sisters and two brothers lived across the street from the James Edgar Playground, where Marciano spent countless hours playing baseball.

At a young age, he worked out on homemade weights and did chin-ups until he "was totally fatigued." Marciano attended Brockton High School and played baseball and football, but got cut from the varsity baseball team when he violated rules by joining a church league. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade and began jumping from job to job, one of which was a floor sweeper position at Brockton's shoe factory. In 1943, Marciano was drafted into the Army and sent to Wales, where he ferried supplies across the English Channel to Normandy. He completed his service in March 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Early Career While awaiting discharge, Marciano represented his unit at Fort Lewis in a series of amateur fights, winning the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament. In March 1947, he fought as a professional competitor, knocking out Lee Epperson in three rounds. Later that year, after trying out for the Chicago Cubs baseball team and being cut, Rocky returned to Brockton and began boxing training with longtime friend Allie Colombo.

Al Weill and Chick Wergeles became Marciano's manager, and Charley Goldman became his professional trainer. Marciano's workout regimen included a minimum of seven miles of running per day, and wearing heavy training shoes specially designed for him by a local shoe mogul and admirer. Professional Career Marciano began fighting as a professional boxer on July 12, 1948, winning a fight against Harry Bilizarian. He then went on to win his first sixteen fights by knockout, all before the fifth round, and nine of them before the end of the first round. During this time, a ring announcer in Rhode Island could not pronounce "Marchegiano," so Weill suggested that they create a pseudonym. "Marciano" was chosen. On September 23, 1952, Marciano fought against Jersey Joe Walcott for the world heavyweight championship. He was knocked down in the first round, and was behind for the first seven, but won in the 13th round, knocking out Walcott with an accurate right punch. The punch was later referred to as his "Susie Q." Marciano went on to defend his title six times, winning five by knockout.

His last title fight was against Archie Moore, on September 21, 1955, where he knocked out Moore in the ninth round. Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956. During his career, he won an unrivaled 49 straight fights, 43 of which were by knockout. Personal Life and Death Marciano met Barbara Cousins, the daughter of a retired Brockton police sergeant, in the spring of 1947. They married on December 31, 1959. They had one daughter, Mary Ann, and adopted a son, Rocco Kevin. After boxing, in 1961, Marciano hosted a weekly boxing show on TV. He also worked as a referee and boxing commentator in boxing matches for many years. On August 31, 1969, the eve of his 46th birthday, Marciano was killed in a tragic plane crash. Rocco Marchegiano | ZoomInfo.com Web References (24 Total References) Rocco Marchegiano Rocco Marchegiano was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1923.

Both of his parents emigrated from Italy to the United States in the second decade of the twentieth century. ... Rocco was the second, followed by three daughters and two more sons. The Marchegianos lived in a two bedroom apartment with no running hot water or central heat. They were poor and the Great Depression made them poorer. Rocco dropped out of high school at age seventeen; well short of earning his "I was never good in school," he acknowledged later. "I just didn't care for the books. Over the next three years, he drifted from menial job to menial job; delivering coal, digging ditches, and working in the same shoe factory as his father. He washed dishes, did landscape work, delivered beer, and put in a stint as a short-order cook. On March 4, 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. Marchegiano was stationed in Europe for two years during World War II; then in Tacoma, Washington. His first exposure to organized boxing came in 1945, when he entered several Army tournaments.

He was discharged from the service in December 1946 and took a job with the Brockton Gas Company, shoveling coal and stoking furnaces for a dollar an hour. On March 17, 1947, in need of money, Marchegiano fought in the opening bout of a professional fight card in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It wasn't until late in his career that the fight became part of his Marchegiano had been promised fifty dollars for the fight. The promoter gave him thirty-five. One month later, a dream that Marchegiano had nursed since childhood came to an end. Growing up, had started at center and linebacker in football for Brockton High School. But his true love was baseball. For four years, he'd played catcher for a local American Legion team. He was good. But not good enough. In April 1947, the Chicago Cubs invited Marchegiano to a tryout. However, he failed to impress and the team decided against offering him a minor league contract. It was then that he parents emigrated from Italy to the United States in the second decade of the twentieth century. ... Rocco was the second, followed by three daughters and two more sons.

The Marchegianos lived in a two bedroom apartment with no running hot water or central heat. They were poor and the Great Depression made them poorer. Rocco dropped out of high school at age seventeen; well short of earning his "I was never good in school," he acknowledged later. "I just didn't care for the books. Over the next three years, he drifted from menial job to menial job; delivering coal, digging ditches, and working in the same shoe factory as his father. He washed dishes, did landscape work, delivered beer, and put in a stint as a short-order cook. On March 4, 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. Marchegiano was stationed in Europe for two years during World War II; then in Tacoma, Washington. His first exposure to organized boxing came in 1945, when he entered several Army tournaments. He was discharged from the service in December 1946 and took a job with the Brockton Gas Company, shoveling coal and stoking furnaces for a dollar an hour.

On March 17, 1947, in need of money, Marchegiano fought in the opening bout of a professional fight card in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It wasn't until late in his career that the fight became part of his Marchegiano had been promised fifty dollars for the fight. The promoter gave him thirty-five. One month later, a dream that Marchegiano had nursed since childhood came to an end. Growing up, had started at center and linebacker in football for Brockton High School. But his true love was baseball. For four years, he'd played catcher for a local American Legion team. He was good. But not good enough. In April 1947, the Chicago Cubs invited Marchegiano to a tryout. However, he failed to impress and the team decided against offering him a minor league contract. It was then that he parents emigrated from Italy to the United States in the second decade of the twentieth century. ... Rocco was the second, followed by three daughters and two more sons. The Marchegianos lived in a two bedroom apartment with no running hot water or central heat. They were poor and the Great Depression made them poorer.

Rocco dropped out of high school at age seventeen; well short of earning his "I was never good in school," he acknowledged later. "I just didn't care for the books. Over the next three years, he drifted from menial job to menial job; delivering coal, digging ditches, and working in the same shoe factory as his father. He washed dishes, did landscape work, delivered beer, and put in a stint as a short-order cook. On March 4, 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. Marchegiano was stationed in Europe for two years during World War II; then in Tacoma, Washington. His first exposure to organized boxing came in 1945, when he entered several Army tournaments. He was discharged from the service in December 1946 and took a job with the Brockton Gas Company, shoveling coal and stoking furnaces for a dollar an hour. On March 17, 1947, in need of money, Marchegiano fought in the opening bout of a professional fight card in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

It wasn't until late in his career that the fight became part of his Marchegiano had been promised fifty dollars for the fight. The promoter gave him thirty-five. One month later, a dream that Marchegiano had nursed since childhood came to an end. Growing up, had started at center and linebacker in football for Brockton High School. But his true love was baseball. For four years, he'd played catcher for a local American Legion team. He was good. But not good enough. In April 1947, the Chicago Cubs invited Marchegiano to a tryout. However, he failed to impress and the team decided against offering him a minor league contract. It was then that he parents emigrated from Italy to the United States in the second decade of the 20th century. ... Rocco was the second, followed by three daughters and two more sons. The Marchegianos lived in a two-bedroom apartment with no running hot water or central heat. They were poor and the Great Depression made them poorer. Rocco dropped out of high school at age 17; well short of earning his "I was never good in school," he acknowledged later. "I just didn't care for the books.

Over the next three years, he drifted from menial job to menial job; delivering coal, digging ditches, and working in the same shoe factory as his father. He washed dishes, did landscape work, delivered beer, and put in a stint as a short-order cook. On March 4, 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. Marchegiano was stationed in Europe for two years during World War II; then in Tacoma, Washington. His first exposure to organized boxing came in 1945, when he entered several Army tournaments. He was discharged from the service in December 1946 and took a job with the Brockton Gas Company, shoveling coal and stoking furnaces for a dollar an hour. On March 17, 1947, in need of money, Marchegiano fought in the opening bout of a professional fight card in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It wasn't until late in his career that the fight became part of his Marchegiano had been promised 50 dollars for the fight. The promoter gave him 35. One month later, a dream that Marchegiano had nursed since childhood came to an end.

Growing up, had started at center and linebacker in football for Brockton High School. But his true love was baseball. For four years, he'd played catcher for a local American Legion team. He was good. But not good enough. In April 1947, the Chicago Cubs invited Marchegiano to a tryout. However, he failed to impress and the team decided against offering him a minor league contract. It was then that he parents emigrated from Italy to the United States in the second decade of the twentieth century. ... Rocco was the second, followed by three daughters and two more sons. The Marchegianos lived in a two bedroom apartment with no running hot water or central heat. They were poor and the Great Depression made them poorer. Rocco dropped out of high school at age seventeen; well short of earning his "I was never good in school," he acknowledged later. "I just didn't care for the books. Over the next three years, he drifted from menial job to menial job; delivering coal, digging ditches, and working in the same shoe factory as his father. He washed dishes, did landscape work, delivered beer, and put in a stint as a short-order cook.

On March 4, 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. Marchegiano was stationed in Europe for two years during World War II; then in Tacoma, Washington. His first exposure to organized boxing came in 1945, when he entered several Army tournaments. He was discharged from the service in December 1946 and took a job with the Brockton Gas Company, shoveling coal and stoking furnaces for a dollar an hour. On March 17, 1947, in need of money, Marchegiano fought in the opening bout of a professional fight card in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It wasn't until late in his career that the fight became part of his Marchegiano had been promised fifty dollars for the fight. The promoter gave him thirty-five. One month later, a dream that Marchegiano had nursed since childhood came to an end. Growing up, had started at center and linebacker in football for Brockton High School. But his true love was baseball. For four years, he'd played catcher for a local American Legion team. He was good. But not good enough.

In April 1947, the Chicago Cubs invited Marchegiano to a tryout. However, he failed to impress and the team decided against offering him a minor league contract. It was then that he

Question: Which American boxer was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano?
Answer: Rocky Marciano