The last fight of the legend Rocky Marciano

The last fight of the legend Rocky Marciano

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More than 50 years ago, boxing was an even more popular sport than it is now. Full stadiums and halls shouted and supported their favorites, and above all in sports there is an indisputable name that you must have heard - Rocky Marciano!

One of the most beloved and respected boxers in history stepped into the ring for the last time in September 1955 in an attempt to achieve the unattainable - ending his career without defeat and a total of 49 victories. However, his task is not at all easy, as against him at the "Yankee Stadium" in New York, Archie Moore - an outsider in the match, but also with remarkable abilities in the ring - faces him.

Marciano enters the ring on the back of 48 victories in the heavyweight division and ready to do anything to retain his world title. He lifted the belt over his head 3 years earlier, making 6 successful defenses of the belt, including 4 brutal knockouts.

Moore, on the other hand, is not even a heavyweight - he is at lightweight, where he is also a world champion, but he is trying to become the first boxer to jump so many categories to climb the world top in the heavyweight division.

Over 60,000 fans roar wildly at the first gong of the match, which turns out to be extremely spectacular. Moore manages to get the first knockdown with a right hook right in the head of Marciano, who falls in the ring, and the title of "invincible" is seriously threatened already in the second round. However, the heavyweight champion stood up in the 4th second, used the next two rounds to gain momentum and began a powerful barrage against his opponent - 2 knockdowns in the 6th round and one in the 8th. Moore, visibly in serious condition, managed to get to his feet, but in the 9th Rocky delivered a final heavy blow that sent the lightweight champion to the floor for the last time - the final blow of Marciano's storied career.

Rocky decided to retire from the sport at just 31 years old and still in his prime. The reason – to spend more time with his family. This turned out to be the right decision, because less than 20 years later (1969) he died in a small plane crash. In 1980, Rocky was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and 10 years later into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.