Thursday, 21 November 2024

Rocky Marciano

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Boxing
Statistics: Boxing Record: 49-0, 43 Wins by KO
1-Time World Heavyweight Champion
1-Time The Ring Heavyweight Champion
1-Time Lineal Heavyweight Champion
Member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
49-0.

Let that digest for a minute.

Before we go back to that, Marciano worked his way up the ranks, defeating Joe Louis in Madison Square Garden. Already a hero to the Italian-American community, Marciano won the heavyweight title from Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952 and would later successfully defend the championship in a rematch to Walcott while also beating such stars as Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore.

The defeat over Moore was his last fight, and the then 33-year-old retired as the heavyweight champion of the world.

The powerful Marciano did what champions before and after did not do, stay retired and preserve his legacy. He is the first and, as of this writing, only boxer to retire as the heavyweight champion undefeated.

We are proud to nominate Rocky Marciano for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.