Rocky Graziano was about as action-packed as it gets as a fighter, his street fighter style made some great wars in the ring. These images are from his fight with Billy Arnold on March 9, 1945, at Madison Square Garden. Billy Arnold battered Rocky Graziano in the early rounds and knocked him around before Rocky Graziano landed a dramatic roundhouse right to the chin in the third round. Arnold went down three times before the referee stopped the fight. Vice President Harry S. Truman was in attendance. Look at the image on the bottom of Graziano staring at the referee with his arm stretched out in a "thumbs down" with blood on his face. Just a savage image.
The photo captures Rocky Graziano throwing a right hand punch against Charley Fusari during their fight at the Polo Grounds in New York on September 14, 1949. Charley Fusari controlled the early part of the fight, boxing well, staggering Rocky Graziano in the first round, and leading on all three judges' scorecards entering the 10th round. Rocky Graziano mounted a dramatic comeback, knocking Fusari down earlier in the 10th round before a heavy barrage of punches forced referee Ruby Goldstein to stop the bout at 2:04. The match marked Graziano's high-profile return to competition in New York after a two-year suspension. Another savage image of a bloody Graziano swinging for the fences with rage in his eyes. Rocky Graziano was widely known for fighting with a relentless, fierce, and volatile fury that mirrored his turbulent upbringing on the streets of New York's Lower East Side.
The rivalry between Rocky Graziano and Freddie "Red" Cochrane featured two notable non-title fights in 1945 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the first meeting on June 29, 1945, Rocky Graziano defeated Freddie Cochrane by 10th-round TKO. Freddie Cochrane, the World Welterweight Champion, outboxed Rocky Graziano for the first eight rounds. However, Graziano rallied, dropped Cochrane at the end of the 9th (saved by the bell), and knocked him down for the full count in the 10th round. In the rematch on August 24, 1945, Rocky Graziano again defeated Freddie Cochrane by 10th-round TKO (refereed by former champion Benny Leonard). Cochrane fought well for the early rounds, but Graziano caught him with a heavy left hook in the 9th and overwhelmed him in the 10th, dropping Cochrane multiple times (reported as seven 9-counts) before the fight was stopped. These images are from the end of the second fight. The image of Graziano helping to get Cochrane back to his corner after the knockout always gets to me. Such a brutal and savage sport but at the end of the day fighters are still human beings.
This iconic photograph shows Rocky Graziano standing over a knocked-out Johnny Greco during their middleweight bout at the Montreal Forum on May 21, 1951. Graziano won by a knockout in the third round, continuing a late-career surge after previously holding the world middleweight title. I love this image, Graziano looks like a bada$$, and the way the lighting looks reminds me of a 1930s classic horror movie.
This is one of my favorite photos, Rocky Graziano sitting on a rooftop in East Village / Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan (around East 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A), close to where Graziano grew up. The photograph was taken in 1954 by John Vachon and Phillip Harrington as part of a Look magazine feature titled "The Fight of My Life".
The photo shows Rocky Graziano in his neighborhood at the corner of 1st Avenue and East 10th Street in New York City's East Village in 1954. Photographed by John Vachon and Phillip Harrington for the Look magazine article "The Fight of My Life".
This photograph shows Rocky Graziano and actor Paul Newman walking together on a New York City street in 1956 during a break from filming the biographical sports drama "Somebody Up There Likes Me." Newman shadowed Graziano, studying his mannerisms, speech, and movements, to prepare for his breakout starring role as Graziano in the film directed by Robert Wise.
How about a few Rocky Graziano magazine covers? This is my favorite, the November 1947 cover of The Ring magazine. A ghostly image of "The Michigan Assassin" Stanley Ketchel looking down at Graziano with the caption: "Rocky Graziano, new world middleweight king, the champ with the "killer" punches, visions himself a second Stanley Ketchel.
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Rocky Graziano was about as action-packed as it gets as a fighter, his street fighter style made some great wars in the ring. These images are from his fight with Billy Arnold on March 9, 1945, at Madison Square Garden. Billy Arnold battered Rocky Graziano in the early rounds and knocked him around before Rocky Graziano landed a dramatic roundhouse right to the chin in the third round. Arnold went down three times before the referee stopped the fight. Vice President Harry S. Truman was in attendance. Look at the image on the bottom of Graziano staring at the referee with his arm stretched out in a "thumbs down" with blood on his face. Just a savage image.
The photo captures Rocky Graziano throwing a right hand punch against Charley Fusari during their fight at the Polo Grounds in New York on September 14, 1949. Charley Fusari controlled the early part of the fight, boxing well, staggering Rocky Graziano in the first round, and leading on all three judges' scorecards entering the 10th round. Rocky Graziano mounted a dramatic comeback, knocking Fusari down earlier in the 10th round before a heavy barrage of punches forced referee Ruby Goldstein to stop the bout at 2:04. The match marked Graziano's high-profile return to competition in New York after a two-year suspension. Another savage image of a bloody Graziano swinging for the fences with rage in his eyes. Rocky Graziano was widely known for fighting with a relentless, fierce, and volatile fury that mirrored his turbulent upbringing on the streets of New York's Lower East Side.
The rivalry between Rocky Graziano and Freddie "Red" Cochrane featured two notable non-title fights in 1945 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the first meeting on June 29, 1945, Rocky Graziano defeated Freddie Cochrane by 10th-round TKO. Freddie Cochrane, the World Welterweight Champion, outboxed Rocky Graziano for the first eight rounds. However, Graziano rallied, dropped Cochrane at the end of the 9th (saved by the bell), and knocked him down for the full count in the 10th round. In the rematch on August 24, 1945, Rocky Graziano again defeated Freddie Cochrane by 10th-round TKO (refereed by former champion Benny Leonard). Cochrane fought well for the early rounds, but Graziano caught him with a heavy left hook in the 9th and overwhelmed him in the 10th, dropping Cochrane multiple times (reported as seven 9-counts) before the fight was stopped. These images are from the end of the second fight. The image of Graziano helping to get Cochrane back to his corner after the knockout always gets to me. Such a brutal and savage sport but at the end of the day fighters are still human beings.
This iconic photograph shows Rocky Graziano standing over a knocked-out Johnny Greco during their middleweight bout at the Montreal Forum on May 21, 1951. Graziano won by a knockout in the third round, continuing a late-career surge after previously holding the world middleweight title. I love this image, Graziano looks like a bada$$, and the way the lighting looks reminds me of a 1930s classic horror movie.
Awesome image of Rocky Graziano catching Tony Janiro with a right hand in 1950 at Madison Square Garden.
This is one of my favorite photos, Rocky Graziano sitting on a rooftop in East Village / Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan (around East 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A), close to where Graziano grew up. The photograph was taken in 1954 by John Vachon and Phillip Harrington as part of a Look magazine feature titled "The Fight of My Life".
The photo shows Rocky Graziano in his neighborhood at the corner of 1st Avenue and East 10th Street in New York City's East Village in 1954. Photographed by John Vachon and Phillip Harrington for the Look magazine article "The Fight of My Life".
This photograph shows Rocky Graziano and actor Paul Newman walking together on a New York City street in 1956 during a break from filming the biographical sports drama "Somebody Up There Likes Me." Newman shadowed Graziano, studying his mannerisms, speech, and movements, to prepare for his breakout starring role as Graziano in the film directed by Robert Wise.
Rocky Graziano with actor and comedian Joe E. Brown.
Music break. Let's take it back to the 80s.
I'm definitely getting some 1930s classic horror movie vibes with this photo of Rocky Graziano.
Oh yeah.
Wicked images of Rocky Graziano training.
Love this image of Rocky Graziano after getting reinstated.
How about a few Rocky Graziano magazine covers? This is my favorite, the November 1947 cover of The Ring magazine. A ghostly image of "The Michigan Assassin" Stanley Ketchel looking down at Graziano with the caption: "Rocky Graziano, new world middleweight king, the champ with the "killer" punches, visions himself a second Stanley Ketchel.
The National Police Gazette, January 1951.
Look magazine, June 24, 1946.
The Ring magazine, September 1949.
Awesome photo of New York City back in the day. The most famous arena in the world baby, Madison Square Garden!
Rocky Graziano strikes a fight pose with the suit and bow-tie.
Rocky Graziano with Frank Sinatra at the Copacabana in New York in 1946.