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Rocky Marciano, 1923-1969
Born Brockton, Massachusetts
Playing professional baseball had been Rocky Marciano's (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano) dream, before his failed 1947 tryout with the Chicago Cubs. He soon turned to boxing and quickly developed into one of the ring's most formidable talents. Marciano's drive to win and compassion endeared him to fans and ring opponents alike. At the age of twenty-nine, he claimed the world heavyweight championship. Over the next several years, he successfully defended his title six times. In 1956, he became the only heavyweight champion in boxing history to retire undefeated, with forty-nine wins, a record that stood until 2017, when it was broken by Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Richard Avedon took this photograph in 1953, shortly after Marciano had defeated Jersey Joe Walcott in a return bout for the heavyweight title.
Richard Avedon, 1953 |