As a baby, Rocky Marciano was diagnosed with a rare form of pneumonia. The disease was so critical that doctors thought he would not survive. If it is, only a ghost will do that.
That spirit became the key spirit of Rocky’s life. Setting the tone he would later bring to the boxing ring. As a boy he loved sports, but his physical attributes, although he had a drive that would become the cornerstone of his career.
In 1943, Rocky was drafted into the army. While stationed in Wales, he joined a boxing program to keep active and avoid boredom. There, boxing gave him a sense of purpose and a goal to focus on, and he took to the sport with the same determination through his childhood struggle.
After returning from the war, Rocky decided to renew his love for the sport of boxing. It would be a passion in these early years that would define a passion that would lay the foundation for him to overcome some life-threatening illnesses to find his purpose in boxing.
Rocky’s humble early experiences were a testament to his determination, a trait that would prove important in his early career. In a business of much taller opponents, he stood out even though he was 5:10 in height with a reach of only 67 inches.
Rocky’s clumsy footwork made him an unlikely candidate for greatness in the eyes of many. When he first entered the ring, his flaws were visible. He often tripped over his own feet and landed blows that were not from an experienced fighter. The first coaches rejected him and wrote him off. One critic said he was too short and average to succeed at heavyweight.
Where others saw his flaws, one man saw potential training in Charley Goldman, who took on the challenge of turning him into a formidable fighter. He is determined in his heart, and determination was his best quality.
Rocky’s stature became his greatest asset, allowing him to generate incredible power in his punches.
Rocky punched a 270lb heavy bag to prepare him to break through his opponent’s defenses by outplaying and outmaneuvering any opponent in front of him.
Rocky’s strategy was draining them both physically and mentally. His unparalleled stamina, honed through brutal training, saw him through the entire fight.
In 1950, what showed his ability to overcome adversity was against the undefeated Rolando LaStarza, who was known for his defensive skills and counter punching abilities. By the end of the match, LaStarza was in pain on his arms and body, requiring surgery to repair the nerve and bone damage caused by Marciano’s relentless punches.
Although the fight ended in a controversial split decision in Marciano’s favor, it cemented his reputation as a rising star with an unparalleled ability to break down his opponents. From his grueling fights with Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott to his untimely death in a plane crash, his life was heartbreaking.
Rocky’s victory over Louis proved to be the leading title contender after ending the career of the man he idolized. On September 23, 1952, against the 38-year-old Walcott, Marciano was knocked out in the first round with a perfectly timed left hook. It was the first time in his career that he fell to the floor. By the middle of the round, Walcott had the lead, but Rocky was determined, despite the cuts above his eyes, to continue attacking Walcott. The blow that fell disfigured Walcott’s face.
In Rocky’s 1954 fights against former champion Ezzard Charles, his pressure proved important. He landed a right hand in the eighth round and knocked him out.
Against light heavyweight powerhouse Archie ‘Old Mongoose’ Moore, Rocky was dropped in the second round but finished the fight in the ninth round. He was known as the ‘blue collar champion’.
Rocky finished his career with a record of 49-0 with 43 knockouts. His life ended in a plane crash.
