Heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano inspired Sly Stallone to make Rocky.
Rocky Marciano, who was knocked down in the first round of the bout against Jersey Joe Walcott that made him boxing’s World Heavyweight Champion in 1952, is getting a biopic. Rocky Graziano got Paul Newman in Somebody Up There Likes Me, but the closest thing we’ve seen to Rocky Marciano onscreen is Sylvester Stallone in Rocky. Not bad, but not really Marciano. Oh sure, there was a 1999 biopic with Jon Favreau, but I didn't see it.
The movie is called 49-0/The Brockton Blockbuster, because Rocco Francis Marchegiano was born and raised in Brockton, Mass., and was the only undefeated heavyweight champion in history. The movie will be directed by Dustin Marcellino, whose debut, The Identical, starring Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd, opens this Friday. Marcellino’s family is writing it and Rocky Marciano's estate are cooperating. Rocky’s brother, Peter, and his son, Rocky Marciano Jr., are working with City of Peace Films.
Rocky Marciano Jr. in a statement, "My father is still counted as one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time and if he were alive today he would be proud that we are working to bring the true story of his life to the big screen. I am thrilled that the Marciano family; together with City of Peace films is working on a movie that will tell the story about my father...the real Rocky story."
Rocky Marciano is a boxing legend. There’s a Beatles bootleg tape from 1965 where you can hear John Lennon talking about discussing Joe Louis with Marciano while the band was recording the song “Think for Yourself.” Though his amateur record was 8 wins and four losses, he never lost any of his 49 professional fights. The only boxer who came close was Roland La Starza in 1950. That was a split decision.
After beating Wolcott again in a rematch, Marciano defended his title against Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles, who went the full fifteen, Don Cockell, and finally Archie Moore, who knocked Rocky down for a four count in round 2, before getting knocked out in the ninth. Marciano retired when we was 32, in 1956. He died in a place crash in 1969. Just like Rocky Balboa, there is a statue of Marciano in his hometown.
Source: THR
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