The only world heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, with 43 knockouts in his 49 fight career, Rocky Marciano was undoubtedly one of the greatest boxers of all time. Born and raised in Brockton, MA., Marciano held boxing’s pre-eminent title from 1952 to his retirement in 1956 and was knocked down only twice in his career, once by Jersey Joe Walcott and once by Archie Moore. In his first title fight versus Walcott, Marciano was knocked to the canvas in the first round but recovered and knocked Walcott unconscious in the 13th round. The title bout against Moore was Marciano’s last fight, and after being knocked down in Round 2, Rocky again recovered and won by knockout in Round 9.
Following retirement, Marciano agreed to return to the ring and fight Ingemar Johansson, but after training for a month, reconsidered and remained retired and undefeated. A successful businessman after his exit from the ring, Marciano also dabbled in acting and television.
One day before his 46th birthday, in 1969, Rocky Marciano was tragically killed in the crash of a private plane near Newton, Iowa. Bad weather and an inexperienced pilot were listed as factors. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, Marciano remains a legend in boxing circles. His KO of Walcott in 1952 was selected by an ESPN poll as the “greatest knockout” ever.