Article 1: The Rock at the top
The Background Info
From affluent streets of Brockton, Mass, a young boy dreamed of escaping his normal yet privileged life. He was not academically gifted in school and he never had the timing to produce a great enough baseball swing to make it to the pros. A young teenager sits in the solitude of his bedroom and considers his existence and wonders what God The Most High has in store for him. He looks at the giant picture of the Boston Red Sox and sighs to himself, closing his eyes and sadly shaking his head. It's not to be, and he knows that...
School was a right off, he knew that from a very young age. He might never be a genius but he was wise enough to know that a collegiate pathway was not going to be his road in life. And yet the humdrum of an everyday life did not appeal to him. He wanted something more, something bigger....
He thought to himself, "what do I do good"? - surely the young man's way of enquiring about his own marketable qualities...
He could only think of two things, he was determined - he was never known to give up on anything in his life....
And secondly, he used to punch out the bullies in the schoolyard and protected those weaker than him...
And so he started training, conditioning his body to expect and absorb the hellish onslaughts of the wars that were to come...
He knew his path was hard... But so too was the mighty powers of his will and his punch...
The young protagonist of our tale would soon grow up to become the gloved warrior known as "The Rock" aka ROCKY MARCIANO
We caught up with our current WBC World Heavyweight Champion ask the questions that the public want to know.
And without further ado, I now present the 10 questions with The Rock:
Q1 Good day Rock, first off why did you sign with Don Krease Promotions?
RM: It was easy really. It all happened so fast. Mr Krease got on the phone with me and told me that he was extremely interested in signing me. We chatted and I like what I heard, he is as ambitious as I am. Then the next day he grabbed a flight and called to my house, where we chatted again and I agreed to join him.
Q2 And you signed a contract?
RM: I did. A contract for 40 weeks. Which I believe, means that I get 40 fights.
Q3 So you plan to stay busy?
RM: Oh yes. No doubt about it. It's the only way to go. Especially now that I am where I am.
Q4 Just before we get to that Mr Marciano, how did you settle in to your new gym with your stablemates?
RM: Y'know we're a close knit bunch.
Jersey Joe is a bit older than the rest of us, but I respect him a helluva lot. He this training very seriously, which is something I can get on board with.
Johnny sometimes gets a little confused with our American phrases but he really is the perfect English gentleman. He's a little quiet and reserved but he is very friendly when he opens up... Sometimes I think he gets a little homesick.
And Laila is just a firecracker in the gym. She's always telling jokes and playing pranks... She's really great company to be around and full of energy.
Q5 And here you are now with a record of seven wins out of nine bouts.
RM: Yeah, I'm glad that I avenged that loss to Foreman on my record. I still believe that the ref stepped in way too early, but you take the rough with the smooth in this game.
Q6 What is it like in your gym, considering your stature in the world rankings?
RM: I was told early on that I would be the standard bearer for our stable and maybe the rankings reflect that (Walcott 28th, Nelson 38th, Laila 4th) but I would say that we consider each other like family and we would do anything to help the other. But we know it's a hard season... Heavyweights are big guys, with big punches...
Q7 Big guys indeed... And perhaps no-one has a bigger punch than you, yet you are small(ish) in stature to your fellow Heavyweights, do you think that is a disadvantage?
RM: I can see why others might think so. But it didn't bother me too much when I defeated big guys like Foreman & Wlad Klitschko. I guess who just work with the tools that you've got.
Q8 And let's move on to you claiming the WBC World Championship off Jack Johnson by stopping him in the 13th round.
RM: The 13th in my favourite round. I prefer 15 rounders, they show the true grit and integrity of everyone who calls himself a fighter. And those who can fight for all of those 15 rounds have the right to contest for World Heavyweight titles. I rate Jack Johnson as a great fighter, I have no problem in saying that. And maybe we'll fight again in the future, I think I would like that.
Q9 And who else is in your sights, or should I call it your hit-list?
RM: Well I only want to fight THE BEST out there. So I definitely look at the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson... I also want to have another fight or two with Jack Dempsey, Jack Johnson I have already mentioned and the trilogy fight with Big George.
Q10 And any comments for the fans out there?
RM: I want to thank everyone for their support. And I will try to be a good Champion for you all and give you exciting fights and big knockouts. And to the kids I say - stay in school and don't do drugs.