Rocky Graziano
Graziano, 1940s | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | The Rock / Rocky / Rockaby |
| Born | Thomas Rocco Barbella January 1, 1919 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 1990 (aged 71) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Locust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, New York |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | Welterweight Middleweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 68+1⁄2 in (174 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 83 |
| Wins | 67 |
| Win by KO | 52 |
| Losses | 10 |
| Draws | 6 |
Thomas Rocco Barbella (January 1, 1919 – May 22, 1990), better known as Rocky Graziano, was an American professional boxer and actor who competed in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. He held the lineal World Middleweight title from 1947 to 1948.
Graziano is considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch. He was ranked 23rd on The Ring magazine list of the greatest punchers of all time. He fought many of the best middleweights of the era including Sugar Ray Robinson.
He was the subject of the 1956 film, Somebody Up There Likes Me, based on his 1955 autobiography, starring Paul Newman as Graziano.