Editing Rocky Marciano (section)

===Championship fights===
[[File:Roland La Starza vs. Rocky Marciano 1953.jpg|thumb|Marciano sends La Starza through the ropes during their [[Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza|1953 title fight]]|240x240px]]
Marciano, 29, [[Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott|faced the World Heavyweight Champion]], [[Jersey Joe Walcott]], in [[Philadelphia]] on September 23, 1952. Walcott dropped Marciano in the first round and steadily built a points lead. In the 13th, Walcott used his trademark feint to set up his right hand, but Marciano's "Suzie Q" landed first, a powerful right hook causing Walcott to slump to his knees with his arm draped over the ropes. He lay motionless long after he had been counted out and Marciano became the new World Heavyweight Champion. At the time of the stoppage, Walcott was leading on all scorecards, 8–4, 7–5, and 7–4.

His first defense came the following year in May – a rematch against Walcott, now 39, who this time was knocked out in the first round.

His next defense was held five months later, in what would be a [[Rocky Marciano vs. Roland La Starza|rematch]] with his old rival, Roland La Starza. After La Starza built a small lead on the judges' scorecards all the way through the middle rounds, Marciano eventually gained the upper hand and won the fight by a technical knockout in the 11th round.[[File:Rocky Marciano - 10 April 1954 - St. Paul Armory Wrestling Program.jpg|thumb|Marciano in 1954|left|286x286px]]Marciano then fought [[Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles|two consecutive bouts]] against former world Heavyweight Champion and [[light heavyweight]] legend [[Ezzard Charles]], who became the only man to ever last a full 15 rounds against Marciano.<ref>Will Hammock (June 5, 2010). "[http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2010/jun/05/the-champ-county-to-honor-legendary-boxer-charles/ The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906135422/http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2010/jun/05/the-champ-county-to-honor-legendary-boxer-charles/ |date=September 6, 2015 }}." ''Gwinnett Daily Post''</ref> Marciano won the first fight, held at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 1954, on points.  Referee Ruby Goldstein scored the bout 8–5–2 in rounds for the champion. Judge Artie Aidala scored it 9–5–1 for Marciano while judge Harold Barnes had it 8–6–1. Marciano gave Charles a rematch, and the much anticipated fight was held four months later at the same venue. Marciano controlled most of the action during the fight, but was cut badly on the nose at the end of the sixth round. Unable to get the bleeding to stop, and fearing a possible stoppage by the fight doctor, Marciano went in for the finish, and soon succeeded, knocking Charles out in the eighth round.

Marciano's next title defense came on May 16 1955, against the British heavyweight Champion [[Don Cockell]], held at [[Kezar Stadium]] in [[San Francisco]]. Marciano controlled most of the fight, and Cockell was knocked down several times before the fight was stopped in the ninth round.

Marciano's [[Rocky Marciano vs. Archie Moore|final title defense]] was against the number one contender and [[List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions|light-heavyweight champion]], Archie Moore, on September 21, 1955. The bout was originally scheduled for September 20, but because of hurricane warnings, it had to be delayed a day. Marciano was knocked down for a four-count in the second round, but quickly recovered and retained his title with a knockout in round nine.

Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956, at he age of 32.<ref>{{cite book
 |last = Mullan
 |first = Harry 
 |title = Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing
 |publisher = Carlton Books
 |year = 1996
 |location = London, England
 |page = 81
 |isbn = 0-7858-0641-5}}</ref> He finished his career an undefeated champion, with a final record of 49–0, 43 of them ending in knockouts.