Rocky Graziano
Titles: Middleweight champion 1947-1948
Record: 67-10-6
Born: January 1, 1922 in New York City, New York (USA)
Years active: 1942-1952
Nickname: None
Graziano was a fighter right out of the pictures of the 50's. Rocky was a
juvenile delinquent from Brooklyn, who used his fists to smash a future for
himself in the ring. Graziano was a big league knockout artist with a
brawling style, definitely no fancy Dan. His brawling style made him a
favorite at the clubs but he could be outboxed which led to 6 decision
losses in his first couple of years as a pro. Graziano is a prime example
of how boxing can save lives. Even the Army threw Graziano out after they
threw him in a army stockade for one year when he punched superior officer
(hell who didn't want to do that :-). Graziano will forever be remembered
for his three classic brawls with Tony Zale. Not one of these fights went
a full 6 rounds, yet they all had more action in them than many 15 rounders.
The 3 fights were bloody, brutal, street brawls with little finesse
involved. They stood toe to toe and slugged it out. Graziano turned pro at
the age of 20 and like everyone else in those days fought the best to get
a shot at the title. 1945 was his breakthrough year as he defeated Al Davis,
Freddie Cochrane, Marty Servo and Harold Green. This earned him the first
legendary title shot against Tony Zale in 1946, which he lost but the
ferocity of the battle would ensure a rematch. In this savage fight both men
were knocked down in the first round, Zale recovered better and took
Graziano out in the 6th round. After wining two more fights by knockout
Rocky got a second shot at the title and Tony Zale. This time he would not
be denied the middleweight title and took Zale out in the same round he had
lost before. It was not easy however and it looked liked Zale would once
again knock Rocky out but Graziano lashed out with a vicious hook that
staggered Zale and the follow-up attack ended the fight. The public could
not get enough and again the two fought and Zale won the rubber match in
emphatic fashion knocking Rocky out in the 3rd round and took the title back.
A unbeaten streak of 21 fights followed and finally 4 years after losing the
title to Zale he was given another title shot against Sugar Ray Robinson.
Robinson was just too fast for Graziano and he took the free swinging
Graziano who had knocked him down in the first round he took Graziano out
in the third round. Graziano retired and but needed one one last comeback
fight loss to keep him out of the ring. Graziano ended up a celebrity in
retirement wrote a book that was turned into a movie made about his life
called "Somebody up there likes me" in which Paul Newman acted as Rocky.
Rocky Graziano
Career record: 67 W, 10 L, 6 D (52 K.O's)
1942
31 Mar Curtis Hightower NY KO 2
6 Apr Mike Mastandre NY KO 3
14 Apr Kenny Blackmar NY KO 1
20 Apr Godfrey Howell NY D 4
28 Apr Charley Ferguson NY L 6
4 May Ed Lee NY KO 4
12 May Godfrey Howell NY KO 4
25 May Lou Miller NY D 6
1943
11 Jun Gilbert Vasquez NY KO 1
16 Jun Joe Curcio NJ KO 4
24 Jun Frankie Falco NY KO 5
8 Jul Johnny Attelly NY KO 2
22 Jul George Stevens NY KO 1
27 Jul Randy Drew NY KO 1
12 Aug Charley McPherson NY W 6
20 Aug Ted Apostoli NY W 4
24 Aug Tony Grey NY KO 6
10 Sep Joe Agosta NY L 6
21 Sep Sonny Wilson NY W 8
5 Oct Freddie Graham NY KO 1
13 Oct Jimmy Williams NJ KO 2
27 Oct Charley McPherson NJ D 6
12 Nov Steve Riggio NY L 6
30 Nov Freddie Graham NJ W 8
6 Dec Charley McPherson NY W 6
27 Dec Milo Theodores NJ KO 1
1944
4 Jan Harry Gray NJ W 8
7 Jan Jerry Pittro NY KO 1
18 Jan Phil Enzenga NY KO 5
9 Feb Steve Riggio NY L 6
24 Feb Manny Morales IL KO 4
4 Mar Leon Anthony NY KO 1
8 Mar Harry Gary NJ W 6
14 Mar Ray Rovelli NY W 8
10 Apr Bobby Brown DC KO 5
9 May Freddy Graham DC KO 3
29 May Tommy Mollis DC KO 7
7 Jun Larney Moore NY KO 2
27 Jun Frankie Terry NY KO 6
21 Jul Tony Reno NY W 8
14 Aug Tony Fiorello NY W 8
15 Sep Frankie Terry NY D 8
6 Oct Danny Kapilow NY D 10
24 Oct Bernie Miller NY KO 2
3 Nov Harold Green NY L 10
22 Dec Harold Green NY L 10
1945
9 Mar Billy Arnold NY KO 3
17 Apr Soloman Stewart DC KO 4
25 May Al Davis NY KO 4
29 Jun Freddie Cochrane NY KO 10
24 Aug Freddie Cochrane NY KO 10
28 Sep Harold Green NY KO 3
1946
18 Jan Sonny Horne NY W 10
29 Mar Marty Servo NY KO 2
27 Sep Tony Zale NY KO by 6
(For World Middleweight Title)
1947
10 Jun Eddie Finazzo TN KO 1
16 Jun Jerry Fiorello OH KO 5
16 Jul Tony Zale IL KO 6
(Won World Middleweight Title)
1948
5 Apr Sonny Horne OH W 10
10 Jun Tony Zale NJ KO by 3
(Lost World Middleweight Title)
1949
21 Jun Bobby Claus DE KO 2
18 Jul Joe Agosta MA KO 2
14 Sep Charley Fusari NY KO 10
6 Dec Sonny Horne OH W 10
1950
6 Mar Joe Curcio FL KO 1
31 Mar Tony Janiro NY D 10
24 Apr Danny Williams CT KO 3
9 May Vinnie Cidone WI KO 3
16 May Henry Brimm NY KO 4
4 Oct Gene Burton IL KO 7
16 Oct Pete Mead WI KO 3
27 Oct Tony Janiro NY W 10
27 Nov Honey Johnson PA KO 4
1951
19 Mar Ruben Jones FL KO 3
21 May Johnny Greco Canada KO 3
18 Jun Freddy Lott MD KO 5
10 Jul Cecil Hudson MD KO 3
6 Aug Chuck Hunter MA W D,Q 2
19 Sep Tony Janiro MI KO 10
1952
18 Feb Eddie O'Neil KY KO 4
27 Mar Roy Wouters MN KO 1
16 Apr Ray Robinson IL KO by 3
(For World Middleweight Title)
17 Sep Chuck Davey IL L 10