May 15, 1953 – Legendary boxer Rocky Marciano stepped into the ring in defense of his world heavyweight title for the first time in Chicago Stadium. This real Rocky took on former Champ Jersey Joe Walcott and it was no competition for the belt holder.
Marciano knocked Jersey Joe onto his keister, and the confused Walcott sat there as the referee did the count. The fight was over by Knock Out just after 2:25 in the first round. Many fight experts that witnessed the march said the Champ came out with much faster combinations and more energy than they had seen him in past fights.
Marciano remains the only boxer to have defeated every opponent he ever faced for the world heavyweight title, and holds the highest knockout-to-win ratio in world heavyweight title fights.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

Curse Reversed. Looking Back at the 2004 Red Sox
For many Red Sox fans, it will feel like yesterday. But even for neutrals,

The History of the Preakness Stakes: Where It All Began
This May 17, 2025, the Preakness Stakes will draw horse racing fans worldwide for

The Forgotten Games, Sports, and Leisure in Ancient Civilizations
The annals of history are not merely confined to tales of wars, conquests, and

Top 5 NFL Teams of the 2010s
We hope this doesn’t spoil any surprises, but the 2017 Cleveland Browns will not be featured on

Debunking Commonly Believed Sports Betting Myths
Like casino gambling and slot games, sports betting has largely become an online business.

What’s Behind The Knicks’ Upturn In form This Season?
There’s the famous saying that every dog has its day. Without wanting to disrespect

Dissecting Super Bowl VII: Miami’s Almost Perfect Super Bowl
On January 14, 1973, the Miami Dolphins completed a seemingly impossible dream by defeating

Debating the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Who Truly Deserves Induction?
I belong to several old-school football groups on Facebook, and one of the biggest topics of