The legendary Rocky Marciano once revealed his toughest ever opponent.
Before the likes of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson became heavyweight icons during their respective eras, Marciano ruled the banner division.
Known as ‘The Brockton Blockbuster’, Marciano went through his entire professional boxing career undefeated, winning all 49 of his contests which included 43 stoppage victories.
Campaigning at heavyweight, Marciano held the world heavyweight championship for four years between 1952 and 1956. He made six defences of his heavyweight crown, beating the likes of Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore along the way.
In April 1956 aged just 32-years-old, Marciano retired from boxing with his perfect unbeaten record still intact. There were rumours of a potential comeback for ‘The Brockton Blockbuster’ a couple of years later, but this never ended up materialising.
In a resurfaced YouTube clip, Marciano was asked to name the toughest opponent he faced during his tenure, revealing Jersey Joe Walcott as the hardest of the bunch.
“I fought Jersey Joe Walcott, 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 with a good left hook. But he sure set himself for it, he became a terrific puncher.”
At the fifth time of asking, Walcott became the world heavyweight champion in 1951 when he knocked out Ezzard Charles in the seventh round of their battle. He beat Charles once again in their third fight just under one month later, this time claiming a unanimous decision victory.
‘Jersey Joe’ went on to lose his heavyweight championship to Marciano in September 1952, and was given a chance to regain his crown 8-months later, but fell short to ‘The Brockton Blockbuster’ once again.
