Rocky Marciano Retires As Heavyweight Champion – April 27, 1956 (This Day In Boxing History)

Sixty-six years ago today, Rocky Marciano called it a career.

Marciano retired at the age of 31 and as a world heavyweight champion, explaining that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He ended his career as the only heavyweight champion with a flawless record of 49 wins in 49 professional fights with 43 knockouts. That translates to an 87.8% knockout percentage, which remains one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history.

Marciano is ranked No. 14 in The Ring’s list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.

He claimed the heavyweight title on September 23, 1952 when he knocked out defending champion Joe Walcott. He went on to defend his title five more times; the last one was against Archie Moore in New York on September 21, 1955, which ended in a ninth-round knockout of Moore.

He died in 1969, a day before his birthday, in an airplane crash.