As an infant, Rocky Marciano was diagnosed with a rare case of pneumonia. The disease was so critical that doctors thought he would not survive. If he did, it would only be through the spirit.
This spirit became a defining 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 in Wales, he joined the boxing program as a way to stay active and avoid boredom. It was there that boxing gave him a sense of purpose and goal to focus on, and he poured himself into the sport with the same determination through his childhood fight.
After returning from the war, Rocky decided to rekindle his love for the sport of boxing. It would be a passion in those 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, qualities that would prove important in his early career. In an enterprise of much taller opposition, he stood out though 5:10 in height with a distance of just 67 inches.
Rocky’s awkward foot made him an unlikely candidate for greatness in the eyes of many. When he first entered the ring, his flaws were obvious. He often tripped over his feet and threw punches that were unbecoming of an experienced fighter. The first instructors fired him and deleted him. One critic said he was too short and average to succeed in the heavyweight division.
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 set his heart and determination were his best attributes.
Rocky’s height became his most important asset, allowing him to generate incredible power in his punches.
Rocky hit a heavy bag of 270 pounds to prepare him to overcome his opponent’s defenses by training and out-training every opponent he put in front of him.
Rocky’s strategy wears them down both physically and mentally. His unparalleled stamina, honed through his brutal training regimen, allowed him to last throughout a fight.
In 1950, he showed his ability to overcome adversity against the undefeated Roland LaStarza, who was known for his defensive skills and ability to hit against. By the end of the fight, LaStarza was suffering in his arms and body, which required 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 take down his opponents. From his grueling battles 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 a top contender for the title after the end of a man’s career he saw. On September 23, 1952, against the 38-year-old Walcott, Marciano was dropped in the first round with a perfectly timed left hook. It was the first time in his career that he was knocked to the floor. In the middle rounds, Walcott had the lead but Rocky was determined, despite the cuts above his eyes, to continue his attack on Walcott. The punch that landed disfigured Walcott’s face.
Rocky’s 1954 matches against former champion Ezzard Charles, his pressure proved significant. He landed a right hand in the eighth round, knocking him out.
Against light heavyweight power puncher Archie ‘Old Mongoose’ Moore, Rocky was knocked down in the second round, but finished the fight in the ninth round. He was known as the “blue collar champion”.
Rocky finished his career 49-0 with 43 knockouts. His life ended in a plane crash.
