By Mark G. Butcher (Secondsout.com)

Rocky Marciano is the only world heavyweight champion to retire with a perfect record (49-0) and, though many have tried, no-one has bettered this proud, but elusive feat.

Marciano was small for a heavyweight at 5ft 10 ½ and just over 13 stone, but he battered his way to the top with a combination of strength, power and persistence. He could also take a great shot and, on the two occasions he was floored against Jersey Joe Walcott and Archie Moore, Marciano recovered immediately to score conclusive knockouts.

Born Rocco Marchegiano in Brockton, Massachusetts on September 1, 1923, Rocky’s aptitude for boxing surfaced in tournaments while he served in England during World War II though he may have taken up baseball had he not failed to make the grade in trials. He was signed by New York manager Al Weill and groomed for greatness by experienced trainer Charley Goldman, who transformed the raw, unschooled Marciano into a destructive fighting machine.

Rocky turned pro in 1947 and won his first 16 fights by knockout and, by the beginning of 1950, the young Italian-American was unbeaten in 25 pro starts. He endured his toughest contest to date in March 1950 when he squeezed home on points against Roland LaStarza, who was himself unbeaten in 37 contests.

He crushed comebacking Joe Louis in eight rounds in October 1951 and the following September was paired with world heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott in Philadelphia. The wily veteran outboxed Marciano throughout, flooring him in the first before “The Rock” roared back in the 13th round to land a destructive right which knocked Walcott out for the full count.

Marciano starched Walcott in just 2 minutes 25 seconds of their May 1953 rematch and the old champion never fought again. Rocky followed this with a conclusive 11th round win over old rival LaStarza four months later and then embarked on an enthralling two fight series with former champion Ezzard Charles.

Charles stood up to Marciano’s best blows in their first encounter in June 1954, a thrilling 15 rounder that “The Rock” won on points. Better was to come in their rematch three months later when Marciano, on the verge of being stopped with a split nostril that was cascading blood, poured on the pressure to floor and finally knock out Charles in the eighth round.

He made just two more defences. Marciano won a ninth round foul-fest over Britain’s Don Cockell in May 1955 before getting off the canvas to knock out “Old Mongoose” Archie Moore in the ninth that September. Rocky was one of the few fighters who got out of the sport at the right time and he sensibly retired, unbeaten, in April 1956.

Sadly, he never got the long retirement he deserved and died in a plane crash, aged 45, over Newton, Iowa on August 31, 1969.