Rocky Graziano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Graziano |
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Graziano, undated
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Thomas Rocco Barbella |
| Nickname(s) | The Rock / Rocky / Rockaby |
| Rated at | Welterweight Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Reach | 68+1⁄2 in (174 cm) |
| Born | January 1, 1919 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 1990 (aged 71) New York City, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 83 |
| Wins | 67 |
| Wins by KO | 52 |
| Losses | 10 |
| Draws | 6 |
Thomas Rocco Barbella (born January 1, 1919 – died May 22, 1990) was an American professional boxer and actor. He was better known as Rocky Graziano. Rocky held the World Middleweight boxing title. Many people think he was one of the best knockout punchers in boxing history. He could often knock out his opponent with just one powerful punch! The Ring magazine, a famous boxing publication, even ranked him as the 23rd greatest puncher of all time. He fought against many top boxers of his time, including the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky's life story was so interesting that it became a movie in 1956 called Somebody Up There Likes Me, based on his own book. The famous actor Paul Newman played Rocky in the film.
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Rocky's Early Life
Rocky Graziano was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His father, Nicola Barbella, was also a boxer, sometimes called Fighting Nick Bob. Rocky grew up in a busy part of Manhattan called the East Village. He learned to fight on the streets before he could even read or write. He spent some years in places like reform school and other special schools for young people who needed extra guidance.
Rocky's dad kept boxing gloves at home and encouraged Rocky and his brothers to practice fighting each other. When Rocky was just three years old, his dad would often have him and his older brother, Joe, spar almost every night.
When he was 18, Rocky won a big boxing competition called the Metropolitan A.A.U. welterweight championship. Even with this success, Rocky wasn't sure he wanted to be a professional boxer. He didn't like the strict training that came with it, just like he didn't enjoy school or army rules.
One day, Rocky heard about a boxing tournament that offered a gold medal to the winner. He decided to enter and won the New York Metropolitan Amateur Athletic Union Boxing Competition in 1939. He sold the gold medal for $15. This made him realize that boxing could be a good way to earn money.
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Rocky started going to the gym to make more money. There, he met Eddie Cocco, who helped him start his professional boxing journey. At first, he used the name Robert Barber in the ring.
Rocky also joined the military, but he ran into some trouble and left without permission. He escaped from Fort Dix in New Jersey and began his real boxing career using the name "Rocky Graziano." He won his first few fights, becoming quite popular. Because of his new fame, the military found him. After his fourth fight, he was called into a manager's office where military officers were waiting. He expected to be sent back to the military or to jail, so he ran away again. However, he returned to the military a week later. In 1941, he turned himself in. He was sent to a military prison called USP Leavenworth. While he was there, Rocky Graziano continued his boxing training. Eventually, he was allowed to box for the Army.
Rocky's Boxing Career
When Rocky was having trouble with the military, he started working with a boxing manager named Irving Cohen. This partnership lasted throughout his whole career. Cohen set up Rocky's first professional fight and introduced him as Rocky Graziano, using his grandfather's last name. Even though Rocky wasn't known for strict training, he had a powerful punching style. He often won his fights by knocking out his opponents. Cohen would arrange fights against tougher and tougher opponents. He even wanted Rocky to fight Sugar Ray Robinson, one of the best boxers ever.
In March 1945, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Rocky had a big surprise win against Billy Arnold. Arnold was a very skilled boxer, fast and powerful, much like Sugar Ray Robinson. Many people thought Arnold would be the next big boxing star and expected him to easily beat Graziano. But Rocky took a lot of punches early in the fight. Then, he came back strong and knocked Arnold out in the third round! After losing to Rocky, Billy Arnold was never quite the same boxer.
Rocky Graziano fought three important middleweight title matches against Tony Zale. He lost the first one, then won the championship in the second fight, and then lost it again in the third.
In their first fight on September 27, 1946, Tony Zale knocked Rocky down in the first round. But Rocky fought back hard, and Zale was almost knocked out himself. However, Zale managed to recover and knocked Rocky out in the sixth round to keep his title.
The rematch happened a year later, on July 16, 1947, in Chicago. This fight was very similar to the first one. The referee almost stopped the fight in the third round because Rocky had a bad cut over his left eye. But Rocky's corner man, Morris Bimstein, was able to stop the bleeding. Even though Rocky was getting hit a lot and his eye was closing, he made an amazing comeback. He knocked Tony Zale out in the sixth round and won the middleweight title!
Their last fight was on June 10, 1948, in New Jersey. Tony Zale won back his title by knocking Rocky out in the third round. Zale landed a perfect combination of punches that knocked Rocky unconscious.
Rocky Graziano's last chance to win the middleweight title was against Sugar Ray Robinson in April 1952. Rocky knocked Robinson down to one knee in the third round. But less than a minute later, Robinson knocked Rocky out with a powerful punch to the jaw.
Rocky retired from boxing after losing his very next fight to Chuck Davey.
Boxing Challenges
In 1946, Rocky faced some issues with the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). He was temporarily stopped from boxing because he didn't report someone trying to offer him money to lose a fight. In 1948, Rocky was suspended again for not showing up to a scheduled fight. The National Boxing Association (NBA) and other boxing groups around the world also stopped him from boxing.
However, a boxing promoter named Ralph Tribuani helped Rocky get a license to box in Delaware. This led to him being allowed to box again by both the NBA and NYSAC, and Rocky returned to the ring.
Life After Boxing
After he stopped boxing, Rocky Graziano became an actor and TV personality. He co-hosted a TV show called The Henny and Rocky Show in 1955 with comedian Henny Youngman. He also appeared regularly on The Martha Raye Show as Martha Raye's boyfriend. Rocky was a regular on the TV series Miami Undercover and appeared in other popular shows like Car 54, Where Are You? and Naked City. In the 1967 movie Tony Rome, he played an ex-boxer named Packy.
In the 1960s, Rocky opened his own pizza restaurant called Rocky Graziano's Pizza Ring in New York City. He even started a small chain of these restaurants. For a short time, he also owned a bowling alley in New York.
Rocky's Family Life
Rocky Graziano married Norma Unger on August 10, 1943. They had a very happy marriage and stayed together until Rocky passed away on May 22, 1990, in New York City. He was 71 years old. People who knew Rocky said he was always loyal to his wife, which was not always common for famous people. They had two children, who both grew up, got married, and had their own children. Rocky's funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He is buried at the Locust Valley Cemetery with his wife, Norma, who passed away in 2009.
Rocky's Legacy
Rocky Graziano is remembered as a great boxer.
- He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
- Ring magazine named him one of the 100 Greatest Punchers of all time.
- In 2007, Rocky was added to the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Graziano, circa 1946
