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Born: Rocco Francis Marchegiano, Sept. 1, 1923, Brockton, MA
Died: Aug. 31, 1969, Newton, IA
Professional Record: 49-0 (43 knockouts)

On September 21, 1955, Rocky Marciano knocked out Archie Moore in what would be the final fight of his career, allowing him to retire as heavyweight champion with a spotless 49-0 record. By any standard, Marciano was an unlikely champion. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, he was a small heavyweight. His reach was the shortest of any heavyweight champion in boxing history, and his boxing style was crude, better suited for ballroom brawling than prize fighting, or so it seemed. But he was fearless and relentless.

Rocky Marciano - The Blockbuster from Brockton
By Ed Fitzgerald
from SPORT, January 1953
There wasn't much a bored soldier shipping out for England could do to kill time on the crowded decks of the Mauretania. Private Rocco Marchegiano of the 150th Combat Engineers didn't have any money in his wallet so he couldn't even get into one of the non-stop games of chance; all he could do was stand around restlessly and watch others shuffling the cards and shaking the dice. Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer. He borrowed a quarter from a pal and got into a penny-ante game of blackjack. He won eight dollars and moved on to a poker game where the stakes were considerably higher. He won $50 more and, feeling hot, bought into the "big game" on the ship, a wide-open crap game. Riding a phenomenal streak of luck, and riding it for all it was worth, he quickly ran his stake all the way up to a bulging bankroll of $1,200.

Full story

Rocky Marciano Ring Record 1947
March 17	Lee Epperson	Holyoke, MA	KO 3
(Fought under name of 'Rocky Mack')
1948
July 12	Harry Bilazarian	Providence	TKO 1
July 19	John Edwards	Providence	KO 1
August 9	Bobby Quinn	Providence	KO 3
August 23	Eddie Ross	Providence	KO 1
August 30	Jimmy Weeks	Providence	TKO 1
September 13	Jerry Jackson	Providence	TKO 1
September 20	Bill Hurdeman	Providence	KO 1
September 30	Gil Cardione	Washington, DC	KO 1
October 4	Bob Jefferson	Providence	TKO 2
November 29	Patrick Connolly	Providence	TKO 1
December 14	Gilley Ferron	Philadelphia	TKO 2
1949
March 21	Johnny Pretzie	Providence	TKO 5
March 28	Artie Donato	Providence	KO 1
April 11	James Walls	Providence	KO 3
May 2	Jimmy Evans	Providence	TKO 3
May 23	Don Mogard	Providence	W 10
July 18	Harry Haft	Providence	KO 3
August 16	Pete Louthis	New Bedford, MA	KO 3
September 26	Tommy DiGiorgio	Providence	KO 4
October 10	Ted Lowry	Providence	W 10
November 7	Joe Dominic	Providence	KO 2
December 2	Pat Richards	New York	TKO 2
December 19	Phil Muscato	Providence	TKO 5
December 30	Carmine Vingo	New York	KO 6
1950
March 24	Roland LaStarza	New York	W 10
June 5	Eldridge Eatman	Providence	TKO 3
July 10	Gino Buonvino	Boston	TKO 10
September 18	Johnny Shkor	Providence	KO 6
November 13	Ted Lowry	Providence	W 10
December 18	Bill Wilson	Providence	KO 1
1951
January 29	Keene Simmons	Providence	TKO 8
March 20	Harold Mitchell	Hartford	TKO 2
March 26	Art Henri	Providence	TKO 9
April 30	Red Applegate	Providence	W 10
July 12	Rex Layne	New York	KO 6
August 27	Freddie Beshore	Boston	TKO 4
October 26	Joe Louis	New York	KO 8
1952
February 13	Lee Savold	Philadelphia	KO 6
April 21	Gino Buonvino	Providence	KO 2
May 12	Bernie Reynolds	Providence	KO 3
July 28	Harry 'Kid' Matthews	New York	KO 2
September 23	Jersey Joe Walcott	Philadelphia	KO 13
(Wins World Heavyweight Title)
1953
May 15	Jersey Joe Walcott	Chicago	KO 1
(Retains World Heavyweight Title)
September 24	Roland LaStarza	New York	TKO 11
(Retains World Heavyweight Title)
1954
June 17	Ezzard Charles	New York	W 15
(Retains World Heavyweight Title)
September 17	Ezzard Charles	New York	KO 9
(Retains World Heavyweight Title)
1955
May 16	Don Cockell	San Francisco	TKO 9
(Retains World Heavyweight Title)
September 21	Archie Moore	New York	KO 9
(Retains World Heavyweight Title)
1956
April 27	Announces Retirement
1970
January 20	Muhammad Ali	(movie/computer fight)	TKO 8

The Italian Stallions Exhibition Information

The Italian Stallions Launch Party

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	BUY THE BOOK! The Italian Stallions: Heroes From the Prime of Boxing's Life By Thomas Hauser and Stephen Brunt Featuring the greatest Italian-American fighters, including Rocky Marciano

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