Rocky Marciano was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano in Brockton, Massachusetts on September 1, 1923 and died August 31, 1969 in Des Moines, Iowa at age 45. In his early life he aspired to become a baseball player and football player. His early life was also humble as he would drop out of school and work for delivery trucks, become a ditch digger and work as a shoemaker. His amateur career (8-4) would be the only time he would experience a loss. After his boxing career he would try out for the minor league Fayetteville cubs, a farm team for the Chicago Cubs, but be cut after only three weeks.

Though he had one stint during his amateur years as fighting as a professional, he would would permanently become a professional in 1948. He would then begin his storied career with notable fights against fighters Harry Bilizarian, Don Mogard, Ted Lowry, Phil Muscato, Red Applegate, and his childhood idol Joe Louis. His first heavyweight championship would come against Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952. His last career fight would be against Archie Moore in 1955. He would announce retirement in 1956.

He would die in a plane crash in 1969 in Des Moines, Iowa where there was a surprise birthday celebration awaiting him. The plane was in bad weather and out of gas and missed the runway by three miles.

He is the only heavyweight champion in history to retire winning every fight of his career. In total he has 49 professional fights, 43 by way of knockout and no loses or draws.