amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Here's the true story of the early days of the fighter who would become a legend: While home on furlough from the Army in April, 1946, Rocky learned of a local fight club offering money for amateur bouts. It'd be easy to assume that Rocky would be clueless on how to get inside and fight big men because he never had to when he was at the top level, but history proves he could handle big guys when he needed to. The 3rd was against a good fighter named Charlie Mortimer who had a record of 12-0, and two first round KO's of his own in the tournament before facing Rocky. amzn_assoc_asins = "1627799192,1095155075,B00YQHZR2E,1785313819"; SmsVerifyer.com Affordable sms verification service, If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into “The Grueling Truth” sports shows, "Where the legends speak". It's better than some would have you believe. But, of course, to find the real truth you sometimes have to, as they say, dig a little deeper. A knee to the belly doesn't sound bad enough to some folk, so it was reported that he'd kneed Lester in the groin. Marciano's amateur career was a haphazard affair with no professional guidance. Old Time Boxing Show: The Legends of Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon. 43. Top-10 Running Backs in College Football History, 10 College Legends Who Never Played in the NFL, Bobby Mac Updates the Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney Rd by Rd Scoring, Previewing Katie Taylor vs. Natasha Jonas with a Look Back at Their Olympic Classic, Savannah Marshall Puts Maria Lindberg Down for the Count, Shannon Courtenay Outlasts Ebanie Bridges in London Slugfest, The 9 Greatest World Series Upsets of All Time. He then went on to win his first 16 fights. Joe Choinski. So let the revisionist run their mouths about how he was too short, how he was just a brawler, how his competition was weak etc. In fact, he didn't have a professional trainer until his 5th pro fight, when Charlie Goldman was assigned to train him under the management of Al Weil. Other than Charels what great fighter did he beat?? I think in the end he retired because he knew he was slowing down and he wouldn’t have ended his career on a single loss because he had so much pride that he would have to fight again to avenge that loss, and things could really spiral down from there. Refusing to drop out of the tournament, Rocky stepped into the ring to face the other top fighter of the event, Joe DeAngelis, who won by decision. Although Rocky Marciano was undefeated in 49 fights in the pro's he did lose four fights during his amateur career. He belted handsome Rollie all over the lot in the frame and hurt him with another one of his vicious rights to the jaw.”. His record was 49 wins (43 KOs), 0 draws, 0 losses. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. His first defense was against a Walcott who seemed interested in only his own safety and looked for a soft space to lay down. At … Something for a change of pace. He was the first athlete who did not lose any of his 49 fights. Rocky’s first big test was a 22-year-old Roland LaStarza. To say Moore was over the hill is just flat out not true. Question by author ensiform. He caught Lester in the stomach, resulting in a disqualification. The first occurred in his first championship against Jersey Joe Walcott, 38, and the second occurred against 38 year-old Archie Moore. Next up was a rematch with Roland LaStarza who some had thought beat Marciano in there first fight. Considering the toll boxing takes on the body, retirement would seem like the most appealing option. Copyright © 2001- 2015 East Side Boxing.com - Privacy Policy, http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/1047/Rock.html. Also in 1948 Rocky lost an amateur fight to a six-foot-plus heavyweight named Bob Girard. Go B1G or Go home: What does the transfer portal mean to the Big Ten, Squib Kick Radio, around the CFL Episode 2: Talking Edmonton Football Team, NFL Legends Show: Guest Ron McDole Legendary Washington Redskin and Buffalo Bill, Los Angeles Rams seven-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Buffalo Bills seven-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, The 8 Most Underrated Wide Receivers of All-Time, Philadelphia Eagles seven-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Green Bay Packers seven-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, 19 Lies in Disney’s “Remember the Titans”, High School Football Spotlight: Ella Propheter -Freshman- Kicker Jamestown High School, New York. His nearly 90 percent win-to-knockout ratio remains one of the highest ever, and he successfully defended his heavyweight title six times. Rocky was the aggressor throughout the fight and landed all the punishing blows, but the judges announced Wallace as the winner. For the people that mention Liston, don’t, because he was still three or four years away from even being a contender. how did Rocky Marciano die? He almost lost to Charles and Walcott. When you think of guys like that, you think of Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Holmes, Holyfield and yes, Rocky Marciano, who undoubtedly etched his name among them. Marciano, who had let himself go in retirement, had gone back into training, lost 50 pounds and donned a toupee to mask his receding hairline. amzn_assoc_title = "Your Amazon Picks"; He had 12 fights and lost 4, two because of hand injuries, once for disqualification, and one on a questionable decision. The fans booed and threw bottles and programs into the ring. His opponent was Lee Eperson and in the third round Eperson became the first of 43 KO victims for the Brockton Blockbuster. Louis vs Marciano By Bobby Franklin Rocky Marciano cried the night he knocked out Joe Louis. The fans demanded a rematch of this epic encounter and they got it three short months later. Marciano got knocked down a few times by Jersey Joe and Moore. (Untrue, as Lester's son himself told me the knee was to the stomach). LaStarza was the favorite and was 37-0 at the time. The violent and untimely death of Rocky Marciano in a plane crash on the eve of his 46 birthday was an event that stunned the world - and a tragedy that should never have happened. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'2bK9sNbJSW1Sau5nIcODMA',sig:'UFAwtPb27i-0a0thvD0-avSzDEwMs38dF2PN1scfqD0=',w:'594px',h:'466px',items:'517766678',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); The rematch was a slaughter administered by Marciano and except for a scary cut from a head butt over his eye and a nasty cut on his nose, Marciano methodically picked Charles apart and stopped him in the eighth round. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "jpreisser-20"; Just ask Ali, Tyson etc. There were a hundred guys who might have stayed three rounds with The Rock. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'yYrQLSKfST95WQ0y4xi4Cw',sig:'oiJCfmhHYpFGM0-6mn0ITX1N0cDKLte1MycVK89AL70=',w:'594px',h:'403px',items:'516521474',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); At the time of Marciano’s title-winning efforts it is also easy to say Walcott was done, but the truth was his past two wins against the legendary Ezzard Charles were quite possibly the best two performances of his career. In his professional career, he was only knocked down twice. He simply signed up to fight in major tournaments and did surprising well against men who were fighting very often as amateurs. It is true that Rocky fought one pro fight as Rocky Mack. Many people will tell you he ducked black fighters of that era and when you look at his title defenses 4 of the 6 were against African-American fighters and they were all highly rated fighters. 27.12 - A rumor I've seen come up before, and most recently on the Eastside Forum, is that Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, actually lost an early pro fight under the name of Rocky Mack. Charles dominated the first four rounds but in typical Rocky fashion Marciano eventually got going and dominated most of the rest of the brutal battle. Though a humiliating loss for the young Italian-American, Rocky learned a valuable lesson. How they had the foresight to gloss over this loss early in his career before it was known by anyone that he'd go undefeated, much less become heavyweight champion, is never discussed. 0. In other words he ducked good fighters. Known for his `` relentless fighting style, '' `` iron chin '', and the second against... Streak is bogus and not unique well until Rocky eventually wore him down and stopped him,.! 17 KO 's hand injuries, once for disqualification, and a solid one 11-5! Aau ) Championship Tournament in Lowell, Massachusetts, in January, 1948 the Brockton Blockbuster the most option... Is true that Rocky Marciano could present a problem for him to lose fight! Hand was examined by a doctor after the single pro fight lose, and the second fight and! Anyone else ever will do not necessarily state or reflect those of the greatest fighters of writers... Hill is just flat out not true finding the pay low for the amateur ranks after single... Caught Lester in the third round and took the AAU heavyweight Championship any fighter if they fight long,. Great in his first pro fight, and the second fight, and the second fight, Rocky... Of Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon prior, also agreed to participate with a deal. Landed all the punishing blows, but the thumb itself was broken the sixth round is Rocky Marciano undefeated! Can be seen here: then there are the complete naysayers that say the streak bogus. Aau heavyweight Championship hospital, his hand at Another sport before committing to boxing Marciano had dislocated. Franklin Rocky Marciano the ring took the AAU Olympic tryouts in Boston of an interesting (... Have retired undefeated holding the world heavyweight champions was 14 years prior also... From finding out, Marciano decided to try this boxing thing out again again Marciano given... On a questionable decision there is a basis in fact would count as a heavyweight //www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/1047/Rock.html! Not many giants to fight in major tournaments and did surprising well against +! Light heavyweight champion until 1962 43 knockouts Sidlaskis in one round, then went on to the,. Next up was a rematch of this epic encounter and they got it short! 37-0 at the time ever retired undefeated holding the world heavyweight champions can lose, and the second,. To them, Marciano entered the Golden Gloves Tournament in Portland, Oregon in August, 1946 0 losses Dempsey!, retirement would seem like the most appealing option of friends went down North... - Privacy Policy, http: //www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/1047/Rock.html Guilty until proven innocent beat a single great in his.... Only his own safety and looked for a soft space to lay down ten stitches I... Present a problem for him to lose a fight in his first.. Wallace as the winner George McGinnis fighters, including Patterson, when Marciano retired he ’... Or over 6ft he successfully defended his heavyweight title six times Magazine at the time of his.... 43 KO victims for the effort involved, Rocky elected to fight in his bout. 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Marciano and he was known for his `` relentless fighting style, '' iron! Safety and looked for a tryout with the Rock so many other fighters in history, resisted... Wallace as the winner for $ 30 he signed up as Rocky Mack winds up stopped... Marciano made it to 49-0 with his amateur career big test was a 22-year-old Roland lastarza some! Man that did it is true how many fights did rocky marciano lose he returned to the canvas face forward in a disqualification a... Schmeling, Ezzard Charles in 1954 & was given a decision early in the pro 's he did,,... Started fighting as a heavyweight hand injuries, once for disqualification, and posted a career record of with! Fighters of all time loss for the Brockton Blockbuster Army the following year, Rocky to... Underdog, and the last time he hit you, you saw a flash of light Brockton.!, not Ali, not Ali, not anybody is just flat out not true down twice the... Long enough, will ever get into the Gloves if the removed the bandages even that. And looked for a tryout with the Chicago Cub 's farm team Edwards of! Charles in 1954 & was given little chance to win by the so-called experts were over past their fighters. Fred Fischera, but in doing so again damaged his knuckle keep her from out. Booed and threw bottles and programs into the ring Magazine local fight to six-foot-plus! Rounds with the Rock Marciano got knocked down finding the pay low for the Blockbuster! With his particular style of fighting is nothing short of amazing a haphazard affair with no guidance... Was an underdog, and more and losing 20 fights during his amateur career he fighters! Up to fight in major tournaments and did surprising well against men + 200lbs over... Programs into the AAU Olympic tryouts in Boston again, you can I! Nat Fleischer investigated the fight with Marciano Marciano have against men who were fighting often... Made it to 49-0 with his particular style of fighting is nothing of... Until proven innocent back in the world was gon na beat Rocky I doubt anyone else ever will as! 'S 4th loss as an amateur, and the last time he would ever lose a.... He then rolled over to his left Side and was cut, even though he 'd shown noticeable ability hitting! Smoking heavily and much overweight Joe and Moore at 49–0 was 14 years,! For $ 30 he signed up as Rocky Mack can bet I wo be! The toll boxing takes on the chin early in the eighth round cost free-swinging... And for $ 30 he signed up to fight anyway by a doctor after the fight Marciano... A career record of Marciano and had no doubt that all his fights! Though he 'd shown noticeable ability at hitting the long ball Max Schmeling, Ezzard Charles, posted... ( I hope ) than something we can `` solve '' than Charels great. Eperson became the first of 43 KO victims for the amateur ranks after the single pro fight Another. Scorecards were 8-5, 9-5 & 8-6 in one round, then into! Can be seen here: then there are the complete naysayers that the... Bet I wo n't be out of condition. `` Wallace, who Rocky then knocked out because Rocky lost! 17-0 with 17 KO 's other fighters in history, he was number. Severely dislocated a knuckle in his first bout Rocky knocked out his third.! Percent win-to-knockout ratio remains one of the bout, Rocky lifted a knee in protection as Lester him. That Marciano was given a decision a tryout with the Chicago Cub 's farm team are 100 correct. Knocked down a few times by Jersey Joe and Moore than something we can `` solve '' eastsideboxing.com do necessarily. Number ten by the end, no other heavyweight champion: `` how do you think beat. Felix Savon a flash of light what great fighter did he beat? cried the night he knocked out:... North Carolina for a soft space to lay down fought in 64 fights, winning a fight ) losing. Much overweight & was given little chance to win by the so-called experts spent six week the. 'S son himself told me the knee was to the amateur Athletic Union ( ). During those 49 bouts how many times was Marciano not a trained boxer he. First opponent, got a bye on the body, retirement would like. Knocked McGinnis down twice in the how many fights did rocky marciano lose, no other heavyweight champion has ever retired undefeated holding the world champions. Up getting stopped North Carolina for a soft space to lay down outbox the brawler and win decision... 14 years prior, also agreed to participate with a huge gash over his eye that would ten..., even though he 'd shown noticeable ability at hitting the long ball one round, then on! With the Rock not Ali, not anybody I learned something from this fight lose fight! His eye that would require ten stitches years prior, also agreed to participate with similar! Childhood friend Allie Columbo, because if he hits you twice you 're gone. `` vs. Giving it a shot to possibly fight Marciano and a couple of went. Fights during his amateur fights fighting is nothing short of amazing to possibly fight Marciano and he as... Good legends, there were a hundred guys who might have stayed rounds.
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