(1923-1969)

Who Was Rocky Marciano?

Rocky Marciano 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 in 1969.

Early Life

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 16 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 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, 1950. 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. Five years later, Barbara succumbed to lung cancer at age 46.

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QUICK FACTS

• Name: Rocky Marciano
• Birth Year: 1923
• Birth date: September 1, 1923
• Birth State: Massachusetts
• Birth City: Brockton
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: American professional boxer and world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano beat Jersey Joe Walcott for the title and won an unrivaled 49 straight fights.
• Industries
• World War II
• Boxing
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Schools
• Brockton High School
• Cultural Associations
• Italian American
• Death Year: 1969
• Death date: August 31, 1969
• Death State: Iowa
• Death City: Newton
• Death Country: United States

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Rocky Marciano Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/athlete/rocky-marciano
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: July 23, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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QUOTES

• What could be better than walking down any street in any city and knowing you’re the heavyweight champion of the world?
• Even after I was knocked down, or badly cut, and was losing a fight, the one thing I thought about most was the hardship my father and mother faced throughout their lives. I well knew that, if I didn’t overcome the challenge at hand, both I and they would certainly never get another chance to escape poverty and oblivion.