1923-1969
Heavyweight Boxing Champion

Holding the Throne.

In 1951 Jersey Joe Walcott knocked out Ezzard Charles to become the oldest heavyweight boxing champion of the world. But the real story of the year was that he was simply holding onto the crown until Rocco F. ("Rocky") Marciano assumed his rightful place as king of boxing. After three years of obligatory tuneup fights, Marciano, then an old rookie at twenty-nine, sent the boxing world a message with his cold-blooded and efficient pummeling of Joe Louis in 1951. If Marciano could render the former- best helpless, it was clear that he was only marking time before he took Walcott out.

Championship.

On 23 September 1952 Marciano got to meet Walcott, and knocked him out in the thirteenth round. On 15 May 1953, in his first title defense, a rematch, Marciano knocked out Walcott in the first round. For the next three years Marciano fought...