Biography for
Rocky Graziano (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

1 January 1919, New York City, New York, USA

Date of Death

22 May 1990, New York City, New York, USA (following a stroke)

Birth Name

Thomas Rocco Barbella

Height

5' 7" (1.70 m)

Spouse

Norma Unger

(10 August 1943 - 22 May 1990) (his death) 2 children

Trade Mark

His left hook

Powerful right cross

Trivia

World middleweight boxing champion, 1947-48. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1991.

Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1983.

His autobiography "Somebody Up There Likes Me" was turned into a successful biopic in 1956 starring Paul Newman.

Pro Record: 67-10-6 (52 KOs)

Knocked down Sugar Ray Robinson in their 1952 Middleweight Title fight before being knocked out himself in 3 rounds.

Reversed 6 of his 10 career defeats.

Good friends with Martha Raye and Frank Sinatra.

Won 52 fights by knockout, 11 in the first round.

Defeated world champions Freddie"Red"Cochrane(twice by knockout), Tony Zale(KO 6), and Marty Servo(KO 2).

His father was a professional boxer who fought under the nickname, Fighting Nick Bob.

Scored an upset knockout win over highly-favored Billy Arnold to break into the world ratings.

Was AWOL from the US Army during World War II and served a one year prison term.

His 3 fight series with Tony Zale are considered among the greatest fights in Boxing History.

Refused to throw a fight to Cowboy Shank and was suspended by the New York Boxing Commission for failure to report a bribe.

Lost his last fight by 10 round decision to Chuck Davey on national t.v.

During the 1960s and early 1970s had a restaurant in North Miami, Florida on Biscayne Blvd. called "Rocky Graziano's".

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 348-350. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

Personal Quotes

"Somebody up there likes me."

"When I was a kid I stole everything that began with the letter A. A car, a jacket, a...."

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