Undefeated: Rocky Marciano Fighter Who Refused to Lose (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: overhand right, approaching fight, ring apron, New York, The Rock, Rocky Marciano (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The story of Rocky Marciano, who remains today the world's only undefeated heavyweight boxing champion. Marciano didn't turn to boxing until age 25, and was considered too small to get into the ring with heavyweights. This compelling portrait is enhanced with 50 photographs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 388 pages
• Publisher: Rounder Books; illustrated edition edition (December 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579401066
• ISBN-13: 978-1579401061
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #370,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive, Compelling Bio of an Eccentric, Determined Champ., November 3, 2005

By	Sound/Word Enthusiast (Rhode Island, USA) - See all my reviews

I can't say I know much about boxing...I never followed the sport much, and the current state of it is so discouraging, I doubt if I ever will. But I do know that Rocky was the only champion to retire undefeated. And I do know that this is easily the best book on boxing I've ever read, and one of the most remarkable biographies I've experienced in recent memory.

Unlike a lot of sports bios, which are written by folks with a better grasp of stats than of sentences, Skehan is a hard-boiled newsman, with a gift for gritty, dark prose. He unfolds Rocky's story like a noir novel, taking us from the champs troubled early days to his determined, against-all-odds rise to the top. He doesn't shy away from the seedier side of the story (crooked managers and commissioners, the mob, racism, violence, etc.), and he confronts Rocky's idiosyncracies head-on.

This also happens to be a beautiful book -- equisitely presented, well laid-out, and with a sumptuous photo insert of amazing, rarely-seen photos. The new chapters (this book was published to great acclaim in the '70s) add much to the champ's story, and make for what will likely be seen as the definitive word on the mighty Marciano.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rocco!, August 1, 2006

By	J. Swift (New Castle, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Rocky Marciano was a character so full of grit and power that he seems fictional. I was born in 76. Im used to pretty boys and pretenders. My hero growing up in the 80's was Tyson. I never seen Mike come off the deck to win. Or fight hurt and come from behind to win.

Contrast that with my Dad's hero growing up. The great Rocky Marciano. When you look up heart in the dictionary you see a picture of the Rock. He fought them all, he was undefeated, he came off the deck to win. He fought behind on all the scores cards, with his nose hanging off his face, his own corner begging him to quit. Yet he never relented, he never stopped, no man alive can say that he bested Marciano in a pro fight.

Its uncool today to put Marciano on a pedestal. People always downgrade the Rock's competition, or say he was to small. But at the end of the day we only have one champion that went undefeated. One man that faced them all, and always ended the day with his hand raised. That man was the Brockton Blockbuster Rocky Marciano. This is a great book!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rock, March 2, 2006

By	ron rossi 22 (colorado) - See all my reviews

The best book I own. If your a Marciano fan youll love this book. I felt as though I was back there in the depression growing up with Rocky. Skehan takes you back vividly as Rocky progresses through his life and career from a simple kid to the most unlikely success story in sports' history. Youll get insights into Rocky's mentality and incredible confidence in himself despite his unusual physical limitations as a boxer. Youll also learn why he retired, and stayed retired at only 32 years of age. It wasnt any one reason, it was a combination of many different yet cumulatively decisive reasons.
1) "To spend more time with his family" was the publicly stated reason and, although important, was far less so than these others
2) "No big name competition left" weighed heavily as the Rock needed major motivation to go for #50
3) "the grind of training" although he at one time loved training, it had now become more than a chore, virtually unbearable was this necessity that was the secret to Marciano's success
4) "the fear of being less than perfect" notice I didnt say "of losing", which Rocky never considered. And although a minor point, the "possibility" had to be in the back of Rocky's mind
5) "injuries" Rocky had always dealt with recurring injuries like severe back pain and broken knuckles. But again if not for everything else this alone would not have persuaded the champ to call it quits
6) "Al Weill" A huge factor. Rocky distrusted his manager immensely, and for good reason, he was caught stealing from him. Its probable that Rocky did not want to incur the legal fees of ending their contract
And so all of these elements combined were powerful enough to cause Rocky to give up his profession with a perfect mark. No boxer ever has matched this feat.