Various items from the authors own private collection (more will be added over time)...
(above) One of my favorite images of Marciano, racing a horse in 1953 whilst training at the now sadly derelict Grossinger's resort, New York.
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(right) Still from Marciano's retirement parade in Brockton, Mass. My thanks go to Brockton resident Richard E. Mahoney for sharing his rare colour film with me...
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(left) Rare vinyl disc released shortly after Marciano's death that tells Rocky's story through a compilation of interviews given by the former champion..
(above) Rare image of Pvt. Marchegiano taken at Fort Deven's, Mass., April 10th, 1943...
(above) The Adelphi, Swansea, Wales - It was here in late 1943 that pvt. Marchegiano was involved in his most publicized bar brawl with a giant Australian...
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(left and below) Marchegiano (second from left) as he appeared in August 1946 prior to his trip to Portland, Oregon as a representative of the Fort Lewis amateur boxing team (My thanks to the Fort Lewis Historical Society)...
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(left) Marchegiano's stunning demolition of a hugely talented opponent during his appearance in Portland back in 1946. Later his hapless foe would admit, ‘I didn’t come to my senses until two hours
later when I was walking down the street with my dad’...
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(right) Photostat of the discharge paper of Pvt. Marchegiano, Rocco F. Very little exists of Marciano's military records but those that do cast a remarkable light on a formerly shadowy part of Marciano's life...
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(right) Then Marchegiano in action from January 1947, The Mechanics Building, Boston, v. Bob Girard. Rocco lost on a points decision over three torrid rounds.
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(right) Marchegiano (note the misspelling of his name in the image) enters the Lowell, Mass. sponsored Golden Gloves in February 1948 and quickly establishes himself as a powerful force...
(below) As New England Golden Gloves Champion Marchegiano in Lowell Sun sponsored apparel prior to leaving for New York. February, 1948...
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(right) Marchegiano v Wallace, March 1st, 1948 - From The Lowell Sun.
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(left) Despite the legend beneath this picture the late Harry Bilazarian was not the first professional opponent of Rocky Marciano, that distinction belongs to Les Epperson however he was the first who faced a fighter intent on carving out a career in the ring and for that (and so much more) he deserves to be remembered.
(below) Material from The Brockton Daily Enterprise(now The Brockton Enterprise and Times) between 1948 and 1949 following Marciano's early rise.
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(below) The Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence - It was here that Rocky Marciano grew from a four round prelim fighter into a sensation...A car park is all that remains today...
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(left, above left and above right) A very small selection of articles from The Providence Journal. The articles, for which I must thank Ms. Elizabeth Fitzgerald from The Providence Library for her hard work in sourcing the material, has helped me bring to the fore the pivotal early professional career of Rocky Marciano...
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(right) Marciano seems to be in complete control here as he faces the resilient Canadian Don Mogard on the night of May 23rd, 1949. yet Mogard rallied to become the first professional to last the distance against the marauding Brocton fighter.
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(left) A bulkier Marciano dispatches Pat Richards in two rounds on his Madison Square Garden début on the 2nd of December, 1949.
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(right) Marciano sparring whilst watched intently by his remarkable trainer Charley Goldman.
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(left) William Sloane House, it was here Marciano decided to stay whilst in New York.
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(right & below) Marciano (back to camera right) in some rare images from his almost tragic bout against Carmine Vingo (back to camera below), December 30th, 1949...
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(right) The unpolished hard copy manuscript for Volume One following the life of Marciano from birth in 1923 through to and including the potentially career defining bout against Carmine Vingo in 1949. For the author it has been 'one hell of a journey, and it has only just begun!'
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(left) The authors work area, from chaos comes a life...
Some correspondence (that gives nothing away)...
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(right and above ) Way back in 1998 I first toyed with the idea of chronicling Marciano's life, in an effort to begin I contacted the remarkable British journalist Harry Carpenter (1925-2010), that he replied at all still amazes and inspires me. It would however be another decade before I really began to seriously explore the possibility of what has become Redemption:...
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(left) In the Spring/Summer of 2010 Peter Marciano, Rocky's youngest brother, helped amend a very rough and early draft of the first volume of the biography. His notes and initial support proved invaluable - however in May of 2011 Peter distanced himself from the project when evidence presented to him showed that the biography was not following a path he felt comfortable with supporting...Despite this he has wished the author every success for which he is thanked sincerely.
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(right) A copy of a pamphlet from the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing which was formed in partnership by Stephen Acunto (who sent me the piece) and Marciano...
(above) In order to understand the fighter a little better I have, amongst other things, amassed a vast magazine and newspaper archive - This article is from LOOK February 10th, 1953...