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
Dick Tracy and the Chicago Cardinals
Long before we could watch football games on our phones, or talk with our
Touchdowns and Time: A Brief History of the NFL
The National Football League (NFL), America’s preeminent professional football organization, has a rich and
NFL Game Plan Gifts From The 1970s
There have been two documented cases that I know of during the 1970s where
Detroit Lions Dynasty of the 1950s
The Detroit Lions franchise began in 1930, but they were the Portsmouth Spartans for
The Inspiring Comeback of Weightlifter Tim Caso
When I first started Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, at nineteen years old, Tim was
Chicago’s Weightlifting Legacy: Mark Levell
As with many weightlifters, Mark’s interest in the sport began with watching weightlifting on
Kentomania: A Sneak Peek at the Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland
With a “won’t be denied” attitude, he took basketball to a level that few
Cheers and Gears: The Tech Behind Today’s College Football Experience
The college football experience has evolved tremendously over the past decade, integrating new technologies