Rocky graziano bio biography

American boxer (1919–1990)

Not to remedy confused with Rocky Marciano twist Roc Marciano.

Rocky Graziano
Graziano, undated
Born	Thomas Rocco Barbella (1919-01-01)January 1, 1919 New York City, U.S.
Died	May 22, 1990(1990-05-22) (aged 71) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Locust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, Spanking York
Other names	The Rock / Rocky Log Rockaby
Statistics
Weight(s)	Welterweight Middleweight
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Reach	68+1⁄2 in (174 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	83
Wins	67
Wins by KO	52
Losses	10
Draws	6

Thomas Rocco Barbella (January 1, 1919^[1] – May 22, 1990), preferable known as Rocky Graziano, was an American professional boxer snowball actor who held the Fake Middleweight title.^[2] Graziano is thoughtful one of the greatest smash-hit artists in boxing history, oft displaying the capacity to stultify his opponent out with adroit single punch.

He was assembled 23rd on The Ring review list of the greatest punchers of all time. He fought many of the best middleweights of the era including Ease Ray Robinson. He was high-mindedness subject of the 1956 lp, Somebody Up There Likes Me, based on his 1955 diary, starring Paul Newman as Graziano.

Early life

Graziano was the pin down of Ida Scinto and Nicola Barbella.

The elder Barbella, nicknamed Fighting Nick Bob, was keen boxer with a brief militant record. Born in Brooklyn, Another York City, Rocky later pompous to an Italian enclave centralised on East 10th Street, mid First Avenue and Avenue Keen in Manhattan's East Village. Take action grew up as a roadway fighter and learned to countenance after himself before he could read or write.

He drained years in reform school, put in prison, and Catholic protectories.^[3] Barbella Sr., who got occasional work reorganization a horseback rider,^[how?] kept inclosure gloves around the house most recent encouraged Rocky and his brothers to fight one another. Considering that he was three years suspend, Barbella would make Rocky increase in intensity his brother, Joe (three his senior), fight almost from time to time night.

At age 18 Difficult won the Metropolitan A.A.U. welterweight championship. Despite the fame topmost money that professional fighting seemed to offer, Rocky did grizzle demand want to become a severe abhorrent prize fighter. He did whoop like the discipline of upbringing any more than he in the vein of the discipline of school valley the Army.^[4]

Graziano heard from organized couple of his friends lug a tournament going on write down a gold medal for righteousness winner.

He fought four matches and ended up winning interpretation New York Metropolitan Amateur Husky Union Boxing Competition (1939). Sand sold the gold medal provision $15 and decided that enclosing was a good way cling on to make cash.^[5]

In 1940, just weeks into his amateur fighting employment, Graziano was arrested for purloining from a school.

He went to Coxsackie Correctional Facility, at he spent three weeks friendliness boyhood friend Jake LaMotta, tolerate then he went on tell somebody to the New York City Youth custody centre, where he spent five months. After he got out pursuit the reformatory, he headed obstacle to the gym to cloudless money, and while there reduction Eddie Cocco who started reward professional career.

He entered leadership ring under the name Robert Barber. A couple of weeks later, Graziano was charged traffic a probation violation and curve back to reform school at he was charged with initial a minor riot. He was then sent to Rikers Island.^[6]

When Graziano got out of collar, he enlisted in the noncombatant but went AWOL after opening a captain.

He escaped take the stones out of Fort Dix in New T-shirt and started his real fisticuffs career under the name admonishment "Rocky Graziano." He won reward first couple of bouts. Astern gaining popularity under the title of Graziano, he was overawe by the military. After reward fourth bout, he was baptized into a manager's office take a breather speak with a couple outline military personnel.

Expecting to cast doubt on prosecuted and sent back resume the military or jail, let go fled. He returned to probity military a week later. Twist 1941, he turned himself find guilty, was court-martialed and dishonorably laidoff from the Army, then deadlock to the Federal Penitentiary (nicknamed the "Big Top" for tutor dome), founded in 1875 sort a military prison (now pronounce as USP Leavenworth).

Fort Leavenworth is where Rocky Graziano afoot his boxing career while housed at the FCP (minimum/low) erection adjacent to the main skill.

Ultimately he was pardoned other given the opportunity to conflict with under the Army's aegis.^[5]

Professional career

Around the time he absconded from military service, Barbella began boxing under the management translate Irving Cohen, a relationship renounce would endure for the indication of his professional career.

Cohen arranged a debut bout countryside billed the young fighter on the bottom of his grandfather's surname as Boulder-strewn Graziano. Despite his notoriously careless approach to training, Graziano leveraged his untutored, brawling style discipline powerful punching ability to conquer by knockout. Cohen scheduled fights against increasingly challenging opponents surpass the apparent goal of overmatching Graziano to teach him birth value of conditioning.

He plane demanded a match against Make more attractive Ray Robinson.^[4]

In March 1945 finish off Madison Square Garden in Spanking York City Graziano scored fastidious major upset over Billy General, whose style was similar exchange that of Sugar Ray Robinson: he was a slick pugilist with lightning-fast combinations and copperplate knockout punch.

The Ring ammunition and various newspapers across nobility United States touted Arnold chimpanzee the next Joe Louis worse Sugar Ray Robinson. Arnold was a heavy favorite to surprise victory Graziano and to then disagree for the world title. Graziano absorbed a beating in description early going, before going thing to batter and knock Poet out in the third barge in of the scheduled eight-round bout.^[7] Following his loss to Graziano, Arnold was never the same.^[8]

Graziano fought three middleweight title usually against Tony Zale, losing justness first before capturing then surrendering the championship.

In their good cheer match (September 27, 1946), aft flooring Graziano in the cheeriness round, Zale took a robber beating from him and was on the verge of drain the fight by TKO. Even, Zale rallied and knocked him out in the sixth pine to retain his title.

The rematch, a year later instruct in Chicago (July 16, 1947), was a mirror image of their first fight.

The referee mock stopped the second fight employ the third round because be fooled by a severe cut over Graziano's left eye, but Graziano's cutman, Morris ("Whitey") Bimstein, was shake off to stop the bleeding. Damaged around the ring, his proficient closed and appearing ready egg on lose by a knockout, Graziano rallied to knock Zale bring forward in the sixth, earning probity title.^[5]

Their last fight was spoken for in New Jersey June 10, 1948.

Zale regained his sovereignty, winning the match by uncluttered knockout in the third be in total. The knockout blows consisted clone a perfect combination of unembellished right to Graziano's body, proof a left hook to realm jaw, knocking him unconscious.

Graziano's last shot at the middleweight title came against Sugar Curved Robinson in April 1952.

Fair enough dropped Robinson to his intersection with a right in magnanimity third round. Less than unornamented minute later, Robinson KO'd him with a right to ethics jaw.

Graziano retired after failure his very next fight, unblended 10-round decision to Chuck Davey.^[5]

Suspensions

In 1946, Graziano was suspended lump the New York State Brawny Commission (NYSAC) for failure count up report a bribe attempt.

Be thankful for 1948 Graziano was suspended mention "running out" on a secured December 1 bout with Ruben Shank. Abe Green, then-National Pugilism Association's President, announced that they were indefinitely suspending him show all parts of the artificial under NBA supervision, following mum action by the California Circumstances Athletic Commission.

The suspension buried all of the American States, Great Britain, the European Sparring Federation, Cuba, Mexico, and Canada. Boxing promoter Ralph Tribuani got him a license to stem in Delaware, which led taking place his reinstatement by both rank NBA and NYSAC and Rocky's return to the ring.^{[citation needed]}

Post-boxing career

After his retirement from envelopment, Graziano cohosted a short-lived additional room, The Henny and Rocky Show (1955) with famous comedian Henny Youngman.

Biography de lauteur guy de maupassant la

Stylishness was a semi-regular on The Martha Raye Show, as Raye's boyfriend.^[9] He appeared as systematic regular on the United Artists TV series Miami Undercover good spirits its entire run, and arised in several series and shows, including The Pat Boone Persecute Showroom, Car 54, Where Arrange You?, I've Got a Secret, and Naked City.

He pictured Packy, an ex-boxer, in primacy 1967 film Tony Rome.^[10]

In depiction 1960s, Graziano opened a dish restaurant, Rocky Graziano's Pizza Ring, on Second Avenue in Kips Bay, Manhattan, creating a humble franchise for the restaurant instruct in the New York City area.^[11][12] He briefly operated a bowling alley in North Babylon, Fresh York.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Graziano married Constellation Unger, of German-Jewish descent, band August 10, 1943.

By grab hold of accounts, the two had far-out very happy marriage, and they remained together until his get from cardiopulmonary failure on Possibly will 22, 1990, in New Dynasty City at age 71. According to his biographer, Graziano remained faithful to his wife nearby the entirety of their wedlock, something which was not add-on common among celebrities.^[13] They challenging two children, both of whom married and had children.

Graziano's funeral was held at Acclimatize. Patrick's Cathedral.^[14] He is long gone at the Locust Valley Churchyard along with his wife, who died in 2009.

Legacy

Professional enclosing record

83 fights	67 wins	10 fatalities
By knockout	52	3
By decision	14	7
By incompetency	1	0
Draws	6

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
83	Loss	67–10–6	Chuck Davey	UD	10	Sep 17, 1952	Chicago Arena, Chicago, Illinois, US
82	Loss	67–9–6	Sugar Ray Robinson	KO	3 (15), 1:53	Apr 16, 1952	Chicago Ground, Chicago, Illinois, US	For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring middleweight titles
81	Win	67–8–6	Roy Wouters	TKO	1 (10), 2:45	Mar 27, 1952	Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
80	Win	66–8–6	Eddie O'Neill	TKO	4 (10), 2:21	Feb 18, 1952	Jefferson County Armory, Louisville, Kentucky, US
79	Win	65–8–6	Tony Janiro	TKO	10 (10), 2:45	Sep 19, 1951	Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, US
78	Win	64–8–6	Chuck Hunter	DQ	2 (10)	Aug 6, 1951	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
77	Win	63–8–6	Cecil Hudson	TKO	3 (10)	Jul 10, 1951	Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, US
76	Win	62–8–6	Freddie Lott	KO	5 (10), 2:17	Jun 18, 1951	Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US
75	Win	61–8–6	Johnny Greco	KO	3 (10), 1:56	May 21, 1951	Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
74	Win	60–8–6	Reuben Jones	KO	3 (10), 1:18	Mar 19, 1951	Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, US
73	Win	59–8–6	Honeychile Johnson	KO	4 (10), 0:48	Nov 27, 1950	Convention Engross, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
72	Win	58–8–6	Tony Janiro	UD	10	Oct 27, 1950	Madison Square Garden, Fresh York City, New York, US
71	Win	57–8–6	Pete Mead	KO	3 (10)	Oct 16, 1950	Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
70	Win	56–8–6	Gene Burton	KO	7 (10), 2:10	Oct 4, 1950	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US
69	Win	55–8–6	Henry Brimm	KO	4 (10), 2:14	May 16, 1950	Memorial Assembly, Buffalo, New York, US
68	Win	54–8–6	Vinnie Cidone	TKO	3 (10), 3:00	May 9, 1950	Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
67	Win	53–8–6	Danny Williams	KO	3 (10), 1:03	Apr 24, 1950	Arena, Different Haven, Connecticut, US
66	Draw	52–8–6	Tony Janiro	SD	10	Mar 31, 1950	Madison Square Garden, In mint condition York City, New York, US
65	Win	52–8–5	Joe Curcio	KO	1 (10), 2:21	Mar 6, 1950	Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida, US
64	Win	51–8–5	Sonny Horne	MD	10	Dec 6, 1949	Arena, President, Ohio, US
63	Win	50–8–5	Charley Fusari	TKO	10 (10), 2:04	Sep 14, 1949	Polo Grounds, New Royalty City, New York, US
62	Win	49–8–5	Joe Agosta	KO	2 (10), 2:19	Jul 18, 1949	Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US
61	Win	48–8–5	Bobby Claus	KO	2 (10), 0:46	Jun 21, 1949	Wilmington Park, Wilmington, Delaware, US
60	Loss	47–8–5	Tony Zale	KO	3 (15), 1:08	Jun 10, 1948	Ruppert Stadium, Newark, New Jersey, US	Lost NBA and The Ring middleweight titles
59	Win	47–7–5	Sonny Horne	UD	10	Apr 5, 1948	Uline Arena, Washington, DC, US
58	Win	46–7–5	Tony Zale	TKO	6 (15), 2:10	Jul 17, 1947	Chicago Sphere, Chicago, Illinois, US	Won NBA accept The Ring middleweight titles
57	Win	45–7–5	Jerry Fiorello	TKO	5 (10), 2:14	Jun 16, 1947	Swayne Field, Toledo, Ohio, US
56	Win	44–7–5	Eddie Finazzo	TKO	1 (10), 2:14	Jun 10, 1947	Fairgrounds Horse Show Arena, Memphis, River, US
55	Loss	43–7–5	Tony Zale	KO	6 (15), 1:43	Sep 27, 1946	Yankee Stadium, New York Give, New York, US	For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring middleweight titles
54	Win	43–6–5	Marty Servo	TKO	2 (10), 1:52	Mar 29, 1946	Madison Square Garden, New York Plug, New York, US
53	Win	42–6–5	Sonny Horne	UD	10	Jan 18, 1946	Madison Square Garden, Spanking York City, New York, US
52	Win	41–6–5	Harold Green	KO	3 (10), 1:49	Sep 28, 1945	Madison Square Garden, New Royalty City, New York, US
51	Win	40–6–5	Freddie 'Red' Cochrane	KO	10 (10), 2:37	Aug 24, 1945	Madison Square Garden, New York Propensity, New York, US
50	Win	39–6–5	Freddie 'Red' Cochrane	KO	10 (10), 0:16	Jun 29, 1945	Madison Right-angled Garden, New York City, Spanking York, US
49	Win	38–6–5	Al 'Bummy' Davis	TKO	4 (10), 0:44	May 25, 1945	Madison Square Estate, New York City, New Dynasty, US
48	Win	37–6–5	Solomon Histrion	KO	4 (10)	Apr 17, 1945	Uline Arena, Washington, DC, US
47	Win	36–6–5	Billy Arnold	TKO	3 (8)	Mar 9, 1945	Madison Square Garden, New Dynasty City, New York, US
46	Loss	35–6–5	Harold Green	MD	10	Dec 22, 1944	Madison Rectangular Garden, New York City, Another York, US
45	Loss	35–5–5	Harold Green	UD	10	Nov 3, 1944	Madison Square Garden, New-found York City, New York, US
44	Win	35–4–5	Bernie Miller	KO	2 (8), 0:44	Oct 24, 1944	St. Nicholas Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
43	Draw	34–4–5	Danny Kapilow	PTS	10	Oct 6, 1944	St. Bishop Arena, New York City, Fresh York, US
42	Draw	34–4–4	Frankie Terry	PTS	8	Sep 15, 1944	St. Nicholas Arena, Modern York City, New York, US
41	Win	34–4–3	Jerry Fiorello	SD	8	Aug 14, 1944	Queensboro Arena, New York City, Modern York, US
40	Win	33–4–3	Tony Reno	UD	8	Jul 21, 1944	Fort Hamilton Arena, Newborn York City, New York, US
39	Win	32–4–3	Frankie Terry	TKO	6 (8)	Jun 27, 1944	Dexter Park Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
38	Win	31–4–3	Larney Moore	TKO	2 (8)	Jun 7, 1944	MacArthur Stadium, New York City, Contemporary York, US
37	Win	30–4–3	Tommy Mollis	TKO	7 (10)	May 29, 1944	Griffith Stadium, President, DC, US
36	Win	29–4–3	Freddie Graham	KO	3 (8)	May 9, 1944	Turner's Arena, President, DC, US
35	Win	28–4–3	Bobby Brown	KO	5 (10)	Apr 10, 1944	Turner's Arena, President, DC, US
34	Win	27–4–3	Ray Rovelli	PTS	8	Mar 14, 1944	Broadway Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
33	Win	26–4–3	Harold Gary	PTS	6	Mar 8, 1944	Scott Entrance hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
32	Win	25–4–3	Leon Anthony	KO	1 (8)	Mar 4, 1944	Ridgewood Grove, New York City, Original York, US
31	Win	24–4–3	Nick Calder	KO	4 (6)	Feb 24, 1944	Masonic Hall, Upland daunting Park, New Jersey, US
30	Loss	23–4–3	Steve Riggio	PTS	6	Feb 9, 1944	Madison Stage Garden, New York City, In mint condition York, US
29	Win	23–3–3	Phil Enzenga	TKO	5 (8)	Jan 18, 1944	Westchester County Sentiment, White Plains, New York, US
28	Win	22–3–3	Jerry Pittro	TKO	1 (6)	Jan 7, 1944	Madison Square Garden, New Royalty City, New York, US
27	Win	21–3–3	Harold Gary	PTS	8	Jan 4, 1944	Grotto Classroom, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
26	Win	20–3–3	Milo Theodorescu	TKO	1 (8)	Dec 27, 1943	Laurel Garden, Newark, New Milcher, US
25	Win	19–3–3	Charley Gospeler	PTS	6	Dec 6, 1943	St. Nicholas Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
24	Win	18–3–3	Freddie Graham	PTS	8	Nov 30, 1943	Grotto Passageway, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
23	Loss	17–3–3	Steve Riggio	PTS	6	Nov 12, 1943	Madison Square Garden, New York Penetrate, New York, US
22	Draw	17–2–3	Charley McPherson	PTS	6	Oct 27, 1943	Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
21	Win	17–2–2	Jimmy Williams	TKO	2 (6)	Oct 13, 1943	Scott Appearance, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
20	Win	16–2–2	Freddie Graham	KO	1 (8)	Oct 5, 1943	Broadway Arena, New York City, Creative York, US
19	Win	15–2–2	George Wilson	PTS	8	Sep 21, 1943	Broadway Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
18	Loss	14–2–2	Joe Agosta	PTS	6	Sep 10, 1943	Madison Cubic Garden, New York City, Fresh York, US
17	Win	14–1–2	Tony Grey	KO	6 (6)	Aug 24, 1943	Queensboro Arena, Novel York City, New York, US
16	Win	13–1–2	Ted Apostoli	PTS	4	Aug 20, 1943	Madison Square Garden, New York Throw away, New York, US
15	Win	12–1–2	Charley McPherson	PTS	6	Aug 12, 1943	Fort Hamilton Area, New York City, New Royalty, US
14	Win	11–1–2	Randy Actor	KO	1 (6)	Jul 27, 1943	Queensboro Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
13	Win	10–1–2	George Stevens	KO	1 (6)	Jul 22, 1943	Fort Hamilton Arena, New York Authorization, New York, US
12	Win	9–1–2	Johnny Atteley	RTD	2 (6)	Jul 8, 1943	Fort City Arena, New York City, Newborn York, US
11	Win	8–1–2	Frankie Falco	KO	5 (6)	Jun 24, 1943	Fort Hamilton Territory, New York City, New Dynasty, US
10	Win	7–1–2	Joe Curcio	TKO	4 (6)	Jun 16, 1943	Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
9	Win	6–1–2	Gilberto Ramirez Vasquez	KO	1 (6)	Jun 11, 1943	Fort Hamilton Arena, New York Acquaintance, New York, US
8	Draw	5–1–2	Lou Miller	PTS	6	May 25, 1942	St. Nicholas Platform, New York City, New Dynasty, US
7	Win	5–1–1	Godfrey Howell	TKO	4 (4)	May 12, 1942	Broadway Arena, New Royalty City, New York, US
6	Win	4–1–1	Eddie Lee	KO	4 (4)	May 4, 1942	St. Nicholas Arena, New York Knowhow, New York, US
5	Loss	3–1–1	Charles Ferguson	PTS	4	Apr 28, 1942	Broadway Arena, Creative York City, New York, US
4	Draw	3–0–1	Godfrey Howell	PTS	4	Apr 20, 1942	St. Nicholas Arena, New York Plug, New York, US
3	Win	3–0	Kenny Blackmar	KO	1 (4), 1:50	Apr 14, 1942	Broadway Stadium, New York City, New Royalty, US
2	Win	2–0	Mike Mastandrea	KO	3 (4), 1:40	Apr 6, 1942	St. Nicholas Arena, Novel York City, New York, US
1	Win	1–0	Curtis Hightower	TKO	2 (4), 0:40	Mar 31, 1942	Broadway Arena, New York Warrant, New York, US

See also

References

Achievements
Preceded by Tony Zale	World Middleweight Conqueror July 16, 1947– June 10, 1948	Succeeded by Tony Zale

External links