As a baby, Rocky Marciano was diagnosed with a rare case of pneumonia. The disease was so critical that the doctors felt he would not survive. If he did it, it would be done by spirit alone.
That spirit became a defining spirit of Rocky’s life. Set the tone he would later bring to the boxing ring. As a boy, he loved sports, but his physical attributes, though 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 the boxing program as a way to stay active and avoid boredom. It was there that boxing gave him a sense of purpose and a goal to focus on, and he threw himself into the sport with the same determination through his childhood struggles.
After returning from the war, Rocky decided to resume his love for the sport of boxing. It would be a passion in these early years that would determine a passion that would lay the foundation for overcoming 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 a business of much greater opposition, he stood out at 5:10 in height with a reach of only 67 inches.
Rocky’s awkward footwork 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 own feet and threw punches unbecoming of a seasoned fighter. Early trainers dismissed and wrote him off. One critic said he was too short and mean to succeed in the heavyweight division.
Where others saw his shortcomings, one man saw a potential training in Charley Goldman, who rose to the challenge of turning him into a formidable fighter. He set his heart, and determination was his best attribute.
Rocky’s stature became his most important asset, allowing him to generate incredible power in his punches.
Rocky hit a heavy bag of 270 pounds to prepare himself to break through his opponent’s defenses by outworking and outclassing every opponent placed in front of him.
Rocky’s strategy was to wear them down physically and mentally. His unparalleled endurance, honed by brutal training regiment, allowed him to survive a fight.
In 1950, showcasing his ability to overcome adversity was against undefeated Roland LaStarza, who was known for his defensive skills and counter punching ability. By the end of the bout, LaStarza suffered injuries to his arms and body, requiring surgery to repair nerve and leg damage inflicted 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 unmatched 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 was a leading contender for the title after ending the career of a man he idolized. 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 punished. By the middle rounds Walcott had the edge but Rocky was determined, despite cuts above his eyes, to continue his attack on Walcott. The punch that landed contorted Walcott’s face.
Rocky’s fights in 1954 against former champion Ezzard Charles, his pressure was important. He landed a right hand in the eighth round and knocked him out.
Against light heavyweight power puncher Archie ‘Old Mongoose’ Moore, Rocky was dropped in the second round but ended the fight in the ninth round. He was known as the ‘blue collar champion’.
Rocky finished his career at 49-0 with 43 knockouts. His life ended in a plane crash.
