INFO ABOUT ROCKY MARCIANO

Undefeated--an accomplishment that few pro athletes and teams can say they have achieved. The 1972 Miami Dolphins finished the regular season undefeated and won the Super Bowl. That was done by a team of about 40 men.

Rocky Marciano stands alone as the only professional boxer to ever retire from the sport with an unblemished record. When the Brockton, Massachusetts native finally hung up the gloves, his record was a shining 49-0 with 43KO's.

Marciano, who only had 12 amateur fights, turned professional on March 17, 1947 with a third round KO of Lee Epperson. He came in at 5'10" and 185 pounds. He was the smallest heavyweight in the division.

He first caught the boxing public's eye when he decisioned another undefeated heavyweight, Roland Starza. He would be only one of three men to go the distance with the rough Italian.

The "Rock" then rattled off victories over Don Mogard and former world champ Joe Louis. He was named the number one contender to the heavyweight title held by "Jersey" Joe Walcott.

In his showdown with Walcott, Rocky had to come back from an early knockdown to score a dazzling KO of the champ in the 13th round. Marciano had captured gold and the hearts of boxing fans everywhere.

He defended that title over the years against LaStarza, Walcott, and a tough contender named Ezzard Charles (twice). In one of his exciting victories over Charles, Marciano was cut terribly and the referee only gave him one round before he would call the bout to a halt. Marciano said that was all he needed, as he went out and KOed Charles halfway into the round.

Marciano's last pro bout came against a tough light-heavyweight named Archie Moore. Once again, the "Rock" had to come off the canvas from an early knockdown to lay out Moore in round nine.

Rocky Marciano's ring wars finally took their toll and he was forced to retire from boxing due to chronic back pain. One tragic day, on his way to his 46th birthday party, Marciano's life was taken in a plane crash near Iowa. Fans mourned the loss of the greatest fighter ever to have stepped through the ropes. In 1990 he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Along with Joe DiMaggio, Marciano is considered to be the Greatest Italian-American athlete ever.