Many comments over the years have said, “Today, Marciano couldn’t beat opponents because of the size of the fighters!”
At 5’10 ½, I went to BoxRec, where I found his opponent’s height, and I’ll give you the results in this article.
Anyone 6’0″ and over, I’ll note. I just tried it and found that 19 of his opponents were taller than Rocky, with five shorter. Only 24 shown.
Let’s take a look at some of the opponents by looking at his 49-0 record with 43 shutouts.
In his last fight, he knocked out light heavyweight knockout king Archie “Old Mongoose” Moore, who at the time was 5’11” with a record of 149-18-8.
UK’s Don Cockell, who was 5’11” with a record of 66-11-1, was stopped in 9 rounds.
Former world champion Ezzard “The Cincinnati Cobra,” who was 6’0 with an 85-11-1 record, was decided and eliminated in 8.
Roland LaStarza who was 6’0” he decided and later stopped as champion in 11. He was 37-0 and 53-3.
“Jersey” Joe Walcott who was 6’0, whose title Marciano took and defended against in their next fight knocking him out in 13 and 1 round.
Harry “Kid” Matthews, who was 5’11” with an 81-3-5, was knocked out in 2 rounds.
Bernie Reynolds, who was 6’0 ½”, 52-9-1, struck out 3. Italy’s Gino Buonvino, who was 6’0″, 24-14-8, struck out 2 and stopped 10.
Lee “Battling Bartender” Savold, who was 6’1, 104-15-4, quit after six rounds.
Former champion Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis, who was 6’1 ½”, 66-2, stopped in 8.
Rex Layne, who was 6’1”, 34-1-1, struck out in 6. Johnny Shkor, who was 6’4 ½”, 32-18-2, pitched in 6.
Eldridge Eatman, who was 5’11”, 22-20-5, stopped in 3.
Carmine Vingo, who was 6’0”, 16-1, was knocked out in 6 and unfortunately passed away from this fight.
Pete Louthis, who was 5:11 ½, 32-13-5, was knocked out in 3. Jimmy Evans, 6’0 ½, 20-7, stopped in 3.
Gilley Ferron, 6’2″, 4-10, stops in 2. James Patrick Connolly, 6’5″, 8-5, stops in 1.
Last updated on 12/01/2025
