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Rocky Marciano: The Brockton Blockbuster
Say hello to Rocky Marciano, the world's only undefeated heavyweight champion, a guy called Rocky Marciano. With just a 67-inch reach, two left feet and under six feet tall, Marciano blasted his way to 49 wins, 43 inside the distance. You could knock him down but you couldn't knock him out. Marciano KO'd Jersey Joe Walcott in a 1952 thriller to become world champion. Defending his title five times, he brought the million-dollar gate back to boxing in 1955 when he crushed Archie Moore in his final fight. He then criss-crossed the U.S. making public appearances, for cash only. He built a network of friends, businessmen and Mob guys who willingly paid his way and flew him around. And that's how he died, hitching a ride in a plane that crashed in an Iowa cornfield in 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday. His mantra was, "If you want to live a full life, then live dangerously." Rocky did that, all right!
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2018
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September 3, 2023
As a boxing fan from the modern generation, I’ve often heard stories of Rocky Marciano — a fearsome fighter, with unrivalled power and an unrelenting will to win. But with the popularity of Muhammad Ali, the late great is often pushed into obscurity. Thus, I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to read about the Italian’s incredible journey through the boxing underworld.
John Jarrett sets the scene perfectly, depicting the harrowing plane crash in which Marciano tragically passed away before going into his early life.
The son of a shoemaker joined the army, travelling around the UK. However, his real passion lay in sport. Although he displayed talent on the baseball field, he pursued boxing. And what a fantastic thing he did.
I knew Rocky was tough, but Jarrett does a great job of bringing this fighter back to life. His blow-by-blow accounts of the powerhouse’s bouts made me feel like I was there watching the action through my hands at ringside.
I particularly enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the heavyweight’s dealings with manager Al Weil, who essentially dictated his fighter’s every move, down to when he went to sleep and when he was allowed to marry his wife.
Unsurprisingly, Rocky met a few characters in his time, including ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott’s manager, who’d had more than his fair share of run-ins with the law.
Jarrett did a great job of humanising the legend, who cared very deeply about his mother. And while he loved boxing, he loved his family more.
After it was all said and done, Rocky made a killing, going round the world, and paying very little for it through his ‘connections’.
By the sounds of it, his generosity knew no bounds, but you certainly couldn’t mess him around as one individual found out via a nasty left hook.
Unfortunately, despite his record, Rocky was never given his respect by the press. To put it bluntly, the icon lacked the fundamental skills you’d expect from a world champion. But through grit, determination and a never-say-die attitude he proved everybody wrong.
His legacy will live on forever.
John Jarrett sets the scene perfectly, depicting the harrowing plane crash in which Marciano tragically passed away before going into his early life.
The son of a shoemaker joined the army, travelling around the UK. However, his real passion lay in sport. Although he displayed talent on the baseball field, he pursued boxing. And what a fantastic thing he did.
I knew Rocky was tough, but Jarrett does a great job of bringing this fighter back to life. His blow-by-blow accounts of the powerhouse’s bouts made me feel like I was there watching the action through my hands at ringside.
I particularly enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the heavyweight’s dealings with manager Al Weil, who essentially dictated his fighter’s every move, down to when he went to sleep and when he was allowed to marry his wife.
Unsurprisingly, Rocky met a few characters in his time, including ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott’s manager, who’d had more than his fair share of run-ins with the law.
Jarrett did a great job of humanising the legend, who cared very deeply about his mother. And while he loved boxing, he loved his family more.
After it was all said and done, Rocky made a killing, going round the world, and paying very little for it through his ‘connections’.
By the sounds of it, his generosity knew no bounds, but you certainly couldn’t mess him around as one individual found out via a nasty left hook.
Unfortunately, despite his record, Rocky was never given his respect by the press. To put it bluntly, the icon lacked the fundamental skills you’d expect from a world champion. But through grit, determination and a never-say-die attitude he proved everybody wrong.
His legacy will live on forever.
Displaying 1 of 1 review