Aside from his great knockout victory over Jersey Joe Wolcott that won him the title, the fight that sticks out in my mind is his last title defense against Archie Moore, the legendary light-heavyweight world champion. The time was late summer, 1955...a time when nobody had ever heard of Cassius Clay, let alone Muhammed Ali and his "Ali shuffle." The world was buzzing as Rocky put his undefeated (48-0) record on the line against the man who had more career KO wins (140) than anyone in the history of professional boxing.
In Brockton, Mass. the stocky young man with thinning curley hair and a twinkley eyed smile that surrounded a chronic broken nose sat on top of the world. He was THE UNDISPUTED heavyweight champion of the world when that title really meant something....everything, actually. When he drove down the street in his cadillac convertible with the special license plate "KO" (bestowed upon him by the governor) everyone recognized, respected and loved him. He was the very best in the entire world.....He was ROCKY MARCIANO.
Rocky was undefeated with 48 consecutive wins, 42 by knockout, and was in training for his title defense against one of the toughest, craftiest men ever to set foot in a boxing ring, Archie Moore.
He was the light-heavyweight champion of the world with no serious challengers in sight. He had been complaining, for some time, that Marciano was ducking him and, since Rocky had disposed of every other "worthy challenger," he was the logical choice for Rocky's next title defense....unless, of course, Rocky was afraid to put his undefeated record on the line. (of course Rocky wasn't afraid)
All the talk and ballyhoo continued even after they signed for a September 20th fight in Yankee Stadium. Quotes from Moore's camp, in North Adams, Mass., now promised destruction and lots of pain. Moore was known for having cut several opponents with his tremendous punching power. As for Marciano Archie simply said, "I'll dissect him." When reminded that Rocky had never been KO'd
and only down once Archie replied, "He's human, ain't he? I'll knock him out." It was even reported that Moore, looking past this fight and subsequent rematch, secretly promised a title defense to Nino Valdes. (Was that confidence or arrogance??)
Meanwhile the Rock seemed undaunted and just trained all the harder up in the Catskills where he isolated himself from his family (and all other distractions) at Grossingers. His manager, Al Weil, said Moore was trying to talk the crown off Rocky's head. "He's talking like a spectator but the perspective is a lot different inside the ring," said Weil. He thinks he's going to hurt Rocky early in the fight and then cut him up. That didn't work for Wolcott in their first fight, when Rocky won the title after being down in the first round. (The only time Rocky had ever been on the canvas) and he won't be hit any harder than that this trip."
The fight had to be postponed one day, because of the threat of a hurricane, but this only served to heighten the anticipation around the country as well as to add $25,000 to the advanced ticket sales. The live gate of 61,574 fans paid $948,117 to see this fight giving Marciano the biggest payday of his career...$500,000. A half million dollars was incredible THEN but I wonder what Rocky would have been worth in today's crazy market?
The fight started with plenty of action from both men. Moore came out with everything he had and, in the second round, connected with a sudden right hand shot that put Rocky down for only the second time in his career. He was up quickly at the count of four and seemed to be clear-headed and strong although he had a bruise under his left eye and was bleeding from his nose. As the round ended Rocky didn't seem hurt from the blow and couldn't wait for the next round.
In the third round Rocky really went after Moore, maneuvering him into the ropes and ripped him in close with body shots with both hands. This went on throughout the entire fight and, try as he may, Archie jjust couldn't get out of those "rope traps."
Rocky kept up the pressure in the 4th and 5th rounds and in the 6th hit Moore right on the chin with an overhand right shot that boxing writer, Murray Rose called "his Suzy Q" punch. Rocky quickly followed it up with a long right that put Moore flat on his back. Archie was up at the count of four but Rocky swarmed all over him tossing bombs from every direction putting him down once more for an 8 count. He survived the 6th and, for the first minute of the 7th round Archie looked like he'd sipped from the "Fountain of Youth." Moore went on the attack and landed two smashing right hands to Rocky's chin that stopped the onslaught and brought the crowd roaring to its feet.
But, midway through the round, father time, and Marciano, caught up with the 38 year old Moore. By the end of the round his eye was almost completely closed and it appeared that his 19 years of ring wars were taking its toll. In the 8th Rocky bulled Moore to the ropes and just whaled away to the head and body. A solid right dropped the dead tired Moore on the seat of his pants and only the bell saved him as referee Harry Kessler counted to seven.
In the 9th Rocky was ready for the kill and everyone in the park, including Archie, knew it. He forced the exhausted Moore to the ropes and let loose with everything he had. Somehow Archie had the strength to throw two solid right hands to Rocky's chin but Marciano was like a man possessed and hardly even waivered. Then it happened...a short, perfectly timed left hook exploded on Moore's chin and it was over. Down he went, crumpled against the ropes, a sweat soaked left mitt hanging over one rope as the referee counted to ten.
After the fight Archie said he was glad it ended the way it did. He wouldn't want to lose sitting in his corner. The doctor, (Dr. Vincent Nardello) had asked him after the 8th round if he wanted to quit. Archie replied, "No champion should ever lose except in the center of the ring," and he went out just the way he wanted to...a true champion of his times.
Rocky later told Moore, "You were a lot better than I thought you'd be. You put up one helluva fight." Archie replied, "Man, you're all right...and YOU were a lot better than I thought you'd be too."
Red Hoffman, legendary sports editor of the Lynn Item said, "There go two "true champions"...the likes of which we may never see again.
Rocky later admitted to the press that he was under a lot of pressure from his parents and his wife to retire but he had no plans to do so. He summed up his reasoning very simply by just saying, "Personally, I just don't think I should retire."
There were already plans for a title defense in June of 1956 against either Bob Baker, Nino Valdes, Floyd Patterson or Hurricane Jackson. with all the signs pointing to a few more healthy paydays.
It came as a complete surprise to most when, on April 27th, 1956, Rocky announced his retirement. Nobody was sure why Rocky was retiring since he was still only 32 but one thing is certain:---whether or not anyone ever surpasses his 49-0 record this world will never again see the
likes of Rocky Marciano.