“First time I was ever off my feet,” Even the great Rocky Marciano was shook facing THIS boxer in the ring
Jersey Joe Wolcott was the toughest challenges among the 49 fights that Rocky Marciano fought throughout his career.
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Jersey Joe Wolcott vs Rocky Marciano (Image Courtesy RIng Magazine)
Rocky Marciano is one of the greatest Heavyweight champions in the history of the square ring. However, to get hold of his first-ever heavyweight gold Marciano had to overcome one of the toughest challenges of his career.
Marciano was already a big name in the world of boxing back in the 50s. Riding on a 42-match unbeaten streak all he needed was the championship gold to cement his legacy. He eventually dethroned the Heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Wolcott after a grueling 13-round fight which Marciano describes as the toughest fight of his career.
In an interview describing the toughest fight of his career, he said, “When I fought Jersey Joe Wolcott, he was the toughest man I ever fought…he was a real champion that night …he used the element of surprise on me and had me down in the first round …it was the first time I was ever off my feet…it was a good left hook …I was hurt bleeding cut and he was ahead on points …but in the 12th round I thought I hurt him and in the 13th I was able to knock him off “
This was the only match in Marciano’s career that went up to the 13th round. Rocky went on to defend his heavyweight championship in 6 matches and finally decided to retire in 1955 after completing his 49th fight and ending his career as an undefeated champion.
The shortest match of Rocky Marciano’s career
Jersey Joe Wolcott challenged Rocky Marciano in a championship rematch the following year. Everyone expected the match to follow in the footsteps of the previous match. However to everyone’s surprise it didn’t go the way everyone predicted.
Two minutes into the first round, Marciano used a left hook to block one of Walcott’s jabs before landing a right uppercut that knocked the former champion to the canvas. Although in shock, Walcott made an effort to beat the count but ultimately rose a millisecond too late and was declared out. Marciano would defend his title the fastest with a first-round knockout.
Walcott ultimately made the decision to retire after the bout, but he continued to contribute to the sport of boxing as a referee. The first match between Marciano and Walcott is considered to be one of the greatest in the history of the sport and The Ring named it the best fight of 1952. The Ring and BoxRec even listed the bout as the 16th greatest fight of all time.
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Soumya Ranjan
(2167 Articles Published)