Rocky Marciano's Untimely Death Anniversary & Birthday

[HomicideHenry]

46 years ago, Rocco Francis Marchegiano (Rocky Marciano) died tragically just one day before his 46th birthday in a plane crash in a farm field in Iowa. The details are gruesome, however, it has been said Marciano and the pilot and other passengers would of survived the crash had the single, solitary tree in the field was not there. Marciano had to be in a closed casket, which goes to show the extent of the damage his body went through in the crash.

In the weeks prior to his death Marciano filmed several hours of footage alongside Muhammad Ali in what would become known as THE SUPERFIGHT OF THE CENTURY to determine the "All-Time Heavyweight Champion in History". According to those involved in the procedings, there was seven different outcomes filmed and that a super-computer from the National Cash Registery (Dayton, Ohio) would use 190+ variables to determine who would of won the hypothetical match up.

As foolish as it sounds today, it was serious business for all parties involved. Two years prior to this, a highly publicized and nationally viewed radio program featuring computer simulated fights (heavyweights, light heavyweights, middleweights and welterweights) was done. Sixteen former champions were randomly selected, and matched tournament style. Ali and Marciano were among the names. Ali would "defeat" Max Schmeling, only to "lose" to Jim Jefferies. Marciano would "defeat" Gene Tunney, Max Baer, Jim Jefferies and Jack Dempsey to become the greatest of all time. Ali, in the aftermath, sued producer Murray Woroner for defamation, saying that him being the only active fighter in the series damaged him commercially.

Woroner, in a stroke of genius, decided to "settle" the lawsuit out of court with the promise of reimbursing Ali if the champion would agree to doing a computer fight with Marciano--- only this time, it would be on film and showed throughout the world. Ali agreed, as he was in need of money (having his license and passport revoked for refusing to join the Army). Marciano, who hadn't fought in 14 years, and gotten grossly fat also agreed to do the film--- but even in his condition, he refused to go into it unless he prepared as hard as he did in his youth. In Marciano's mind, if the punches suddenly became real (intentionally or not) he had to be ready in order to win.

The result? Marciano lost over fifty pounds in weight and some may argue he looked in better condition than Ali did for the fight as Ali came in at least thirty pounds heavier than he was in his last fight. There are many stories that came out of the filming of this. The most told was an incident where Ali knocked Marciano's toupee off his head in filming, and The Rock told Ali never to do it again. Ali, being the perpetual jokster, didn't take Marciano serious and did it again. Without hesitation Marciano began throwing power shots and all hell broke loose. According to some, Ali doubled over. Others say he actually touched canvas. Some say Marciano sucker punched Ali. Regardless of what happened, filming stopped for a week and Ali demanded extra money for completing the film.

In the end, however, both men earned the other's respects. If one watches the Superfight, one can see moments when both men tested one another--- that the punches became more than acting blows. Ali putting on the flash, and Marciano banging away to the body like days of old. Following his death, Ali would say that he couldn't imagine Marciano in his prime, because of the difficulty there was in landing a solid jab on him even at 45 years of age. Ali would also further enlarge in later years, that Marciano hit incredibly hard even though they were just playing around, and that he believed him to be superior to Joe Frazier.

Ali, being Ali though, for purposes of not losing face would say (of the Superfight) that the computer had to of been made in Alabama and was racist to warrant him any justice--- as the computer determined Marciano would of beaten Ali. Some have argued the computer didn't actually select Marciano to win, but that the ending was really a tribute given to a sports icon who recently passed. Either way, what started with Ali suing Woroner, turned into Woroner suing Ali for defamation.

One has to wonder, though, had Marciano of not died in that plane crash in Iowa what his thoughts and feelings would of been had he heard Ali say those words--- Would he of went on the Dick Cavett Show and told the world how he hurt Ali during the filming of the "fight"? Would he of just laughed it off? Who knows. It must be said, though, that around this time a Texas billionaire actually offered Marciano ten million dollars to make a comeback (following the NCR tournaments on radio) to fight Muhammad Ali. Sports Illustrated famously wrote: "Forty Five is No Age for a White Hope" when that story came to light.

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There will always be questions as to his legacy. There will be doubters, skeptics, and all-out fan boys of the Rock. Both are wrong in their assumptions. Teddy Atlas may of been the most accurate on Marciano when he said "He is both the most over-rated and under-rated heavyweight of all time. Over-rated because of the 49-0, and under-rated because he was never given the credit he was due." A man who had very little amateur experience, who started late in the game, who overcame his physical dimensions and lack of skills to literally destroy men of superior size and ability. Some cite his era was weak, therefore he was over-rated. But if one listens to the likes of Archie Moore, whom Marciano defeated, he would tell you Marciano was the strongest and hardest hitting man that he had ever faced.

There's been numerous threads done in the past on Marciano. I've made many myself. We analyze his fights, his punch rate, his opponents. But maybe its his life narrative that we should focuse on. What are the odds, of a man from such poor beginnings, in an era of racism towards Italians and other immigrants, to become the most feared man in the world? To become such a celebrity? To become the personification of his era? A million to one? Ten million to one? A hundred million to one? Who knows. In our modern world its hard to imagine a Marciano, when all of our champions and contenders make more in one fight than Marciano made in his whole career. It's hard for us to relate to such a man, who fought as if his life depended on it every time out, when our biggest stars today shy away from mixing it up (like Mayweather & Pacquiao).

In 2016, a film entitled 49-0 will be released, and will be a big Hollywood production. A new generation of people will be exposed to Marciano. I hope the film does him justice. It supposedly has the backing and the blessing of Marciano's surviving friends and family members. Whether it will remotely come close to capturing the essence of the man, or will fall short, remains to be seen. But 46 years ago... we lost a legend... and better late than never, for us to celebrate the memories.

[Caractacus]

A Ballad to Rocky Marciano.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL63rZvVlXA

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

just realized Rocky Marciano would have turned 100 years old last month.
Was wondering why I was watching a lot of his old films over the past few weeks.

[goose 5]

I read a rumor that Marciano was decapitated-is it true ?

[Teddy's Toupee]

I read a rumor that Marciano was decapitated-is it true ?

No. His wig came off, which might be the source of that rumour.

[Monzon83]

He was a bull, you can almost feel the power he has hitting the heavy bag.

[evrenb]

He was decapitated...that's why there was no open casket. Dreadfully morbid topic.

[Joson]

Marciano may have been the best fighter in history who fought under 190 lbs. That this claim is irrefutable decades after his career, and remains true despite of the advent of many great cruiserweights since then, tells us everything we need to know about Rocky.

[giacomino]

Marciano may have been the best fighter in history who fought under 190 lbs. That this claim is irrefutable decades after his career, and remains true despite of the advent of many great cruiserweights since then, tells us everything we need to know about Rocky.

So, better than Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Roberto Duran. Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, SRL, Julio Cesar Chavez, etc.? No. And definitely not irrefutable. If you mean best heavyweight under 190, maybe so

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

-1954-


December 1956

[Caractacus]