Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano (1 September 1923 – 31 August 1969), born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1952 to 1956. Marciano, with forty-four knockouts to his credit (an 87.8% knockout rate), remains the only heavyweight champion in boxing history to retire without a defeat or a draw in his professional career of 50 fights, however his amateur record is 8-4; 7 victories came by way of knockouts. He fought 7 championship fights. Rocky Marciano's boxing career lasted from 1946 to 1956.

Quotes

If I didn't think I was gonna win, why the hell would I be fighting?!

Why waltz with a guy for 10 rounds if you can knock him out in one?

What could be better than walking down any street in any city and knowing you're the heavyweight champion of the world?
- After knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott to capture the heavyweight crown, as quoted in "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

That was a fucking dumb question. If I didn't think I was gonna win, why the hell would I be fighting?!
- To a reporter who asked if he thought he'd win his upcoming fight against Joe Louis, quoted in, "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

Why waltz with a guy for 10 rounds if you can knock him out in one?
- As quoted in, "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

I don't want to be remembered as a beaten champion.
- Explaining why he wouldn't come out of retirement for a big payday against heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson, as quoted in, "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

Roland La Starza was tough, but Ezzard Charles was the toughest man I ever fought. I learned what pain was all about when I fought him.
- Reminiscing about his opponents; quoted in"Sept. 17, 1954: Marciano vs Charles" by Eliott McCormick, in The Fight City (17 September 2019)

Quotes about Marciano

Sorted alphabetically by author or source

Rocky Marciano stood out in boxing like a rose in a garbage dump.
- Jimmy Cannon, as quoted in I Don't Believe It, But It's True: A Year in Boxing (2006) by Thomas Hauser, p. 293

Rocky is not in there to outpoint anybody with an exhibition of boxing skill. He is a primitive fighter who stalks his prey until he can belt him with that frightening right-hand crusher. He is one of the easiest fighters in the ring to hit. You can, as with an enraged grizzly bear, slow him down and make him shake his head if you hit him hard enough to wound him, but you can't make him back up. Slowly, relentlessly, ruthlessly, he moves in on you. Sooner or later, he clubs you down.
- Ed Fitzgerald, sportswriter, as quoted in"Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

I got a guy who's short, stoop shouldered and balding with two left feet. They all look better than he does as far as the moves are concerned, but they don't look so good on the canvas. God, how he can punch.
- Charlie Goldman, Marciano's trainer, as quoted in "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

I was on my face. I heard the count from one to 10. I kept telling myself that I had to get up, but I couldn't move. I couldn't make myself move. It was the strangest feeling.
- Rex Layne, after being knocked out by Marciano, as quoted in "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

The greatness of Marciano in the ring was defined by the way he prepared for a fight, his ability to punch and take a punch.
- Will McDonough, as quoted in Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times (2002) by Russell Sullivan

Rocky didn't know enough boxing to know what a feint was. He never tried to outguess you. He just kept trying to knock your brains out. If he missed you with one punch, he just threw another. I had the braggadocio and the skill and the guts, but that wasn't enough. Marciano beat me down.
- Archie Moore, who was knocked out by Marciano, as quoted in "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

Rocky is a poor Italian boy from a poor Italian family, and he appreciates the buck more than almost anybody. He's only got two halfway decent purses so far, and it was like a tiger tasting blood
- Al Weill, Marciano's manager, as quoted in "Remembering the Brockton Blockbuster", by Thomas Hauser, in The New York Sun (14 September 2005)

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