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to keep the challenger on the outside, where he could more easily pick his shots and effectively counter Rocky's punches. Marciano attempted to close the distance, hoping to wear the champion down with constant punching. Walcott scored a knock down in the opening round (the first of only two times in
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The fight saw both men attempt to repeat strategies that worked in the previous bout, with
Walcott trying to keep the champion at range and Marciano aggressively trying to keep constant pressure on the challenger. Only two minutes into the first round, Marciano countered one of Walcott's jabs with a
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Rocky
Marciano had built up an impressive record of 42 straight victories, winning all but five in knockout or stoppage. He rose into prominence in the early 1950s, scoring notable victories over several top contenders, including Joe Louis, before facing off with Walcott. Marciano was a slight
331:. This all changed less than a minute into the round, when Marciano landed a devastating right hook (just before Walcott could land one of his own) which knocked the champion out cold. Marciano won via 13th-round knockout, and was now the new heavyweight champion of the world.
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left hook followed by a right uppercut that sent the former champion to the ground. Although stunned, Walcott did attempt to beat the count, but ultimately rose a split second too late, and was counted out. The first-round knockout would be
Marciano's quickest title defense.
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heavyweight title in 1951, after scoring a knockout victory over
Charles in a third match. At the age of 37, Walcott was the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship (a record he held for over 30 years until he was surpassed by
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Rocky’s career that he was knocked off his feet), and from there put up a comfortable lead over the challenger, although
Marciano kept constant pressure on the champion, scoring heavy blows through the fight.
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After the fight, Walcott ultimately decided to retire, but stayed active in boxing, going on to become a referee (presiding over several championship bouts including the controversial
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scored by
Marciano, in a major comeback victory after Walcott stacked up a wide lead throughout the majority of the bout. The fight and the final round were ranked as 1952's
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During Jersey Joe
Walcott's over two decade long boxing career, he would fight for the heavyweight championship several times. In four close fights, he lost title shots to
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Going into the 13th round, Walcott was ahead on all scorecards (8-4 and 7-5 by the judges and 7-4 by referee
Charley Daggert), and seemed poised to win the fight by
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The two fighters had a rematch the following year, and saw
Marciano's first successful defense of his title, winning a quick victory over the former champion.
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Marciano would go on to hold the heavyweight title until his retirement in 1956, defending his title five more times and going on to retire
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319:. The fight proved to be a very hard-fought match for both men. Walcott spent most of the fight using his superior boxing skills and
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Marciano and
Walcott's first fight is regarded as one of the greatest in boxing history, being named 1952’s fight of the year by
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in 1994). He defended his title with a 15-round unanimous decision in a fourth fight with Charles, before facing Marciano.
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fought two historic boxing matches in 1952 and 1953. The first fight saw Marciano, the undefeated challenger, take on the
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favorite to beat the older champion, though the more experienced Walcott entered the fight confident of victory.
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Marciano's first title defense was a rematch with Walcott eight months later, meeting in
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Jersey Joe in a hard-fought championship fight. The fight culminated in a 13th round
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He never attempted a comeback (although he did spar with Muhammad Ali in a famous
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in 1965). In the 1970s and 1980s he also served as the first African American
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The fight was also ranked the 16th greatest fight of all time by both
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Marciano (left) and Walcott (right) before their rematch in 1953.
627:"Ranking the 10 Greatest Heavyweight Fights in Boxing History"
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ranked it as the 10th greatest heavyweight match of all time.
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Marciano sends Walcott to the canvas during their 1953 rematch
457:"Rocky Marciano's Greatest Fights: Marciano-Walcott"
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Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott (2nd meeting)
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Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano (1st meeting)
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315:The two fighters met on September 23, 1952, in
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294:(twice to each), before finally winning the
221:heavyweight champion (prior to second fight)
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672:May 1953 sports events in the United States
524:"September 23, 1952: Marciano vs Walcott I"
237:heavyweight champion (prior to first fight)
430:"Marciano Picked Over Walcott in Title Go"
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522:Carbert, Michael (September 23, 2022).
481:"The 100 Greatest Fights of All Time".
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550:"May 15, 1953: Marciano vs Walcott II"
455:Sugar, Burt Randolph (June 16, 2006).
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31:Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott
18:Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano
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625:Seekins, Briggs (February 3, 2015).
377:New Jersey State Athletic Commission
687:Boxing matches in the United States
497:"Marciano Knocks Out Walcott Early"
51:September 23, 1952 and May 15, 1953
171:5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
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579:International Boxing Hall of Fame
548:Carbert, Michael (May 16, 2022).
692:Heavyweight championship matches
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151:Pennsauken Township, New Jersey
682:Sports competitions in Chicago
60:Philadelphia Municipal Stadium
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269:fight and round of the year
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261:world heavyweight champion
375:, and as chairman of the
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185:196 lb (89 kg)
182:185 lb (84 kg)
134:The Brockton Blockbuster
174:6 ft (183 cm)
146:Brockton, Massachusetts
384:undefeated and untied.
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247:Heavyweight champions
485:(Holiday 1996). 1996.
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575:"Jersey Joe Walcott"
436:. September 23, 1952
359:Aftermath and legacy
71:Title(s) on the line
631:The Bleacher Report
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256:Jersey Joe Walcott
125:Jersey Joe Walcott
88:heavyweight titles
27:Boxing competition
677:Boxing in Chicago
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503:. May 16, 1953
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160:42-0 (37 KO)
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507:October 27,
466:October 27,
440:October 27,
311:First fight
205:Recognition
661:Categories
417:References
329:a decision
296:undisputed
282:Background
137:Jersey Joe
399:The Ring.
288:Joe Louis
483:The Ring
409:, while
403:The Ring
273:The Ring
265:knockout
234:The Ring
218:The Ring
199:Orthodox
194:Orthodox
142:Hometown
131:Nickname
85:The Ring
369:sheriff
349:Chicago
335:Rematch
407:BoxRec
231:, and
215:, and
179:Weight
168:Height
82:, and
321:reach
225:NYSAC
209:NYSAC
190:Style
102:Boxer
76:NYSAC
56:Venue
612:2022
586:2022
561:2022
535:2022
509:2022
468:2022
461:ESPN
442:2022
405:and
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48:Date
371:of
229:NBA
213:NBA
80:NBA
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