Rocky Marciano

Professional boxer. He held the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World from 1952 to 1956. One of history's greatest fighters, he was born in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1923 and won the Golden Gloves title as an amateur; it is interesting to note that Marciano's amateur record was 8–4. He fought low and out of a crouch, and although he was much shorter than his opponents, he had a fervent desire and a devastating right hand. He turned pro in 1947 and progressed steadily through the ranks, defeating the likes of Roland Lastarza, Don Mogard, Ted Lowry, and Joe Louis. In 1952 he challenged Jersey Joe Walcott for the Heavyweight Championship. The slick veteran Walcott knocked down Marciano in the first round and gave him a sustained beating for 12 rounds. In the 13th round, Marciano closed in on Walcott and uncorked a devastating right hand that put Walcott down for the count. As champion, he fought Don Cockell, a rematch with Lastarza, and Archie Moore. In an epic battle with Ezzard Charles, Marciano's nose was horribly split, and the referee gave him 'one more round' to close matters. Showing true grit, Marciano did just that by knocking out Charles in the 9th round. Marciano retired in 1956 with a record of 49-0 with 43 KOs. He is the only Heavyweight Champion in history to retire undefeated. In 1969, Marciano boarded a single-engine Cessna in Chicago for a flight to Des Moines, Iowa. He wanted to get back to Fort Lauderdale to celebrate his 46th birthday. Shortly before reaching its destination, the plane crashed into a cornfield in Newton, Iowa. Marciano, his friend Frank Farrell, and the pilot Glenn Belz were all killed instantly. Marciano died at age 45 on the eve of his 46th birthday. In 1990, 21 years after his death, Marciano was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.