Rocky Marciano

Jack Johnson Was The Epitome Of One Bad Nigger

That night, Jack Johnson beat Lee Epperson by a knockout in three rounds. Jack had won all of his first sixteen bouts by knockout, all but one before the fourth round, and nine before the first round was over. On 23rd of May 1949, Don Mogard became the first boxer to last the distance with The Rock, with Rocky winning by decision. Looking back to when Jack Johnson took the heavyweight crown from Tommy Burns and defeated the once great Jim Jeffries in an ill fated comeback. The search was on for the “great white hope.” From 1908 when Jack Johnson won the title until his 1915 match with big Jess Willard, the heavyweight champion attracted more attention than any other black American in history up until the time of Joe Louis. Jack Johnson was the most controversial black athlete until Muhammad Ali came on the boxing scene. Jack Johnson was the epitome of the “bad nigger.” The origins and use of the word “one bad nigger” by blacks as a expression of admiration can be traced to the time of slavery.

Rocky Marciano Became "The  Great White Hope"

A “bad nigger” was one who would not submit to his shackles and resisted the supremacy of the white man. Jack Johnson refused to bow down to the white man and defiantly said by his actions “I am better and stronger than any white man alive.” The white race, for the most part, had a difficult time accepting the fact of Jack Johnson’s dominion rule of the heavyweight division. One observer went so far as to say; after Jeffries defeat, Johnson wasn’t really a Negro: He was a Numidian from a long lost tribe of known as the Caucasians. When Rocky Marciano came on the boxing scene no one thought that he would be any good as a boxer due to his short legs and short reach. After beating the aged Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles noting that all these fighters were black and also they had all passed their prime years. Rocky Marciano was seen as the great white hope of America

Rocky Marciano Was Beating All Comers On His Way To World Title

Before he fought those boxers mention above Rocky Marciano was beating all comers. He was wining by knockouts. Hardly any boxers could stay the distance with Rocky Marciano. He met Ted Lowry who according to many scriptwriters and witnesses, probably managed to take three or four of the ten rounds away from Rocky. Nevertheless, Rocky Marciano kept his winning streak alive by beating Lowry by decision. Four more knockout wins followed, and then another hard fought ten round decision went his way over his future world title challenger Roland LaStarza. Rocky won three more knockouts in a row, and then had a rematch with Lowry. Marciano again won by unanimous decision. After that, Rocky Marciano won four more fights by knockout. After a win in six rounds against Red Applegate, Rocky Marciano was ready to take on the world. When he knocked out Rex Layne in six rounds on July 12, 1951 for the first time boxing was shown on national TV. One more win in which another boxing match was again showcased on National television, but this time his fight was against Joe Louis who came out of retirement for this fight with Rocky due his income tax debts. In Joe Louis' last career bout, Rocky Marciano won by a knockout in the eighth round.

The Brockton Rock Keeps On Winning Fights After Fights

After those series of wins, Rocky Marciano became a ranked Heavyweight boxer. Rocky Marciano had four more wins, including victories over Lee Savold and Harry Matthews. It was time for Rocky Marciano to face the world Heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott in Philadelphia on 23rd September 1952. Dropped by Jersey Joe Walcott in the first round with a perfect left hook. But from that moment on the fight became brutal exchange of fists, with Jersey Joe Walcott pitting all his ring skills, hitting Marciano with terrific boxing shots that would have put away most other fighters to sleep. In the meantime Marciano himself was delivering some mighty blows of his own, but Jersey Joe was way ahead on points on all scorecards right up to the end of round 12. To win the fight, Rocky Marciano would have to knockout Walcott. The bell rung for the start of the thirteen round and Brocton Rock came charging out of his corner. Walcott stepped away from  but with his back against the ropes. The Brocton Brawler delivered a punch that would have knocked down the walls of Jericho. Jersey Joe Walcott was knocked out in the ill fated thirteenth round and Rocky Marciano became the world heavyweight boxing champion. It took several minutes before Jersey Joe could get on his feet again. Jersey Joe Walcott was never the same again.

Marciano Beat Charles After His Nose Was Broken

In a rematch that was fought one year later Rocky Marciano retained his world heavyweight boxing title with a first-round knockout of Jersey Joe Walcott. Next on his agenda came LaStarza's turn to challenge Marciano and after building a small lead on the judges' scorecards all the way to the middle rounds, Roland LaStarza was knocked out in eleven round. Then came former world Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles, who Rocky Marciano beat by a decision in their first bout. After having his nose broken in round five of the rematch, Marciano retained the title with an eighth round knockout win. Then Rocky Marciano met British and European champion, Don Cockrell whom Rocky knocked out in round nine. Rocky Marciano retired an undefeated heavyweight champion, 49 fights, 43 KO's. World Heavyweight Boxing Champion from 1952 to 1956.

Rocky Marciano