Rocky Marciano [Paperback]

Everett M. Skehan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1999

Rocky Marciano (1923-1969) was the only heavyweight champion ever to complete a professional career without a loss. Rocky's record was 49-0, with 43 KOs. He was the greatest slugger in boxing history and knocked out 88 percent of his opponents. Born Rocco Marchegiano, he grew up during America's Great Depression and by 1947 he was the darling of the New York fight crowd. Later that year he turned professional and he became the heavyweight champion of the world when he defeated Jersey Joe Walcott on September 23, 1952. He defended his title six times and retired undefeated in 1956.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Robson Books (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0860512347
• ISBN-13: 978-0860512349
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,037,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He Beat Them All! Because He Refused To Lose!, May 4, 2000

By 

Tom Stewart (TKO Tom) (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocky Marciano (Paperback)

If you're looking for one of the best biographies ever written about anyone then I highly recommend Everett Skehan's - Rocky Marciano: Biography of a First Son.

This book has it all and it's really a tough book to put down once you begin. When you're finished with this one you will really have the complete story of Rocky Marciano from humble beginnings as the son of a shoemaker to Heavyweight Championship to the tragic end.

Skehan's work on Rocky reads like a novel. It's a great subjective, totally honest and entertaining account of Rocco Francis Marcheigiano - the one and only Rocky who retired undefeated blazing his way to a record of 49-0 (43)KO to become the only undefeated Heavyweight Boxing Champion in history.

This book really leaves no stone of the Rock's life uncovered. From boyhood aspiring baseball player of Italian immigrant parents in Brockton, Massachussetts, to struggling contender, to Heavyweight Champion, to a family life after fighting, right up until the tragic last rainy night that would end in Iowa cornfield.

It has all the details of all of Rocky's major fights and the machinations of behind the scenes promoters and managers. Skehan has talked to all of Marciano's business partners, boyhood friends, family members and takes the reader back to Rocky's hometown of Brockton, Massachussetts so one gets a true feeling of what it was like when Rocky was "Champ".

This book is the true undefeated champion of boxing biographies and once a person puts it down they'll feel like they know the man they simply called "The Rock". It's a knockout read!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellant! A hard hitting tale of struggle,effort and glory!, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rocky Marciano (Paperback)

An engrossing tale of "The Rock". From his early, humble beginings in a one industry town, to his altimate goal of the worlds heavyweight championship. A truly indepth look into the man: his fears,goals and dreams. A winner!!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quiet Man, Mean Punch, January 16, 2002

By 

William Hare (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rocky Marciano (Paperback)

Everett M. Skehan did a comprehensive, thoroughly professional biography on a great champion long deserving such attention. Rocky Marciano's soft spoken demeanor prompted him to stay away from media opportunities and let his fists do the talking for him. His incredible record of 49 consecutive professional victories with 43 knockouts serves as a glittering testimonial to his skills.

With his quiet demeanor, often to the point of preferring to stay in the background, Marciano would more than likely led an unobtrusive life in his native Brockton, Massachusetts and never missed the publicity had it not been for the fact that he was endowed with a rock hard body and the kind of stamina that brings back memories of boxing's only 3 time champion of the thirties, Hammering Henry Armstrong. Marciano had the shortest reach of any heavyweight titlist, but made up for it with a swarming style that smothered opponents, along with a solid punch that eliminated them.

Skehan's life reveals a major point of irony in life, the relativity of great talents. Marciano had one of the solidest constitutions of any fighter in ring history, possessing awesome power, yet, when he sought to pursue his first love as a boy growing up, baseball, by trying out for the Chicago Cubs s a catcher, he was thwarted. Marciano had the same kind of stolid, stocky build as all-time catching great Yogi Berra of the Yankees. When he tried out for the Cubs, however, he was rejected for not having a strong enough throwing arm. The short term loss proved to be his long term gain since, unless he had ability to rise to the level of a Berra and become a Hall of Famer, Marciano's accomplshments would have diminished compared to his boxing achievements as one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time.

Marciano was a tireless worker, as this biography reveals. He was able to resist temptation in his determination to reach the top of the fight game in a career that spanned less than a decade, from 1948 to his retirement in 1955 with his celebrated 9th round knockout of Archie Moore, the world light heavyweight champion. Even while on his honeymoon in Miami Beach, Marciano would faithfully rise each morning to do his roadwork on the hotel golf course. On occasions when temptation beckoned and a beautiful woman would be available, Marciano bypassed the momentary pleasure to stay in shape during his fight career. As a result, when he did retire Marciano loaded up on calories and tasted delights of the flesh in rapid scale fashion, seeking to make up for lost time.

While understanding the reason behind Muhammad Ali's "I am the greatest" media campaign, which he acknowledged with the words, "He's trying to build a gate," he also let it be known that he did not appreciate such public relations tactics. He was a quieter sort and such a demeanor was inconsistent with his being and perhaps his understanding.

Skehan also carves out interesting sketches of Marciano's trainer Charlie Goldman and his manager Al Weill. Marciano revered the respected veteran trainer Goldman. He could not abide Weill, particularly when the manager wanted to sack Marciano's life long Brockton friend Allie Colombo. The fiercely loyal Marciano insisted that Colombo be kept on the payroll as a managerial and training assistant.