Who was Rocky Marciano?
A: Rocco Francis Marchegiano, better known as Rocky Marciano, was an
American professional boxer.
When did he compete?
A: From 1947 to 1955 and held the world heavyweight title from
1952 to 1956.
He is the only heavyweight champion to have finished
his career how?
A: Undefeated.
Who were his six title defenses against?
A: Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don
Cockell and Archie Moore.
He was known for his relentless what?
A: Fighting style, formidable punching power, stamina, and exceptionally
durable chin.
Marciano is considered one of the greatest what?
A: Heavyweight boxers of all time.
Marciano remains the only fighter to have done what?
A: Stopped every opponent he ever faced for the world heavyweight title.
He shares, with Joe Louis, the highest knockout-to-win
percentage in world heavyweight title fights at what?
A: 85.71%.
His career knockout-to-win percentage of 87.8% remains
what?
A: One of the highest in heavyweight boxing history.
Marciano is ranked where in The Ring magazine's list of
the 100 greatest punchers of all time?
A: #14.
Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, he was raised where?
A: On the south side of Brockton,
Massachusetts to Pierino Marchegiano and
Pasqualina Picciuto.
Both of his parents were immigrants from where?
A: Italy.
His father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, while his
mother was from where?
A: San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Campania.
Rocky had what two brothers?
A: Louis (aka Sonny) and Peter, and three sisters, Alice, Concetta and
Elizabeth.
When he was about 18 months old, Marciano contracted
what?
A: Pneumonia, from which he almost died.
In his youth, he worked out on what?
A: Homemade weightlifting equipment and used a stuffed mailbag that hung
from a tree in his back yard as a heavy bag.
He attended Brockton High School, where he played both baseball and football.
However, he was cut from the school baseball team
because he had done what?
A: He joined a church league, violating a school rule forbidding players
from joining other teams.
He dropped out of school after finishing what grade?
A: The tenth grade.
Marciano then worked as a what?
A: A chute man on delivery trucks for the Brockton Ice and Coal Company.
He also worked as what?
A: A ditchdigger, railroad layer and shoemaker.
He was a resident of Hanson, Massachusetts; the house
he lived in still stands where?
A: On Main Street.
In March 1943, Marciano was drafted into what?
A: The United States Army for a term of two years.
Stationed in Swansea, Wales, he did what?
A: He helped ferry supplies across the English Channel to Normandy.
After the war ended, where did he complete his service
in March 1946?
A: At Fort Lewis, Washington.
What was Marciano's amateur record?
A: 8–4.
While awaiting discharge, Marciano represented the Army
and won what?
A: The 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament.
His amateur career was briefly interrupted on March 17,
1947, when Marciano did what?
A: Stepped into the ring as a professional competitor at the Valley Arena
Gardens of Holyoke, Massachusetts, being billed as "Rocky Mackianno of
Westover Field".
That night, he knocked out what local fighter?
A: Lee Epperson in three rounds.
In an unusual move, Marciano returned to what?
A: The amateur ranks and fought in the Golden Gloves All-East Championship
Tournament in March 1948.
He was controversially beaten by whom?
A: Coley Wallace.
He continued to fight as an amateur throughout the
spring and competed in what?
A:
The AAU Olympic tryouts in the Boston Garden.
There, he knocked out George McInnis, but hurt his
hands during the bout and was forced to what?
A: Withdraw from the tournament.