by Kevin De Silva Piques

Created on: October 22, 2009

The uppercut, a very potent punch, when delivered correctly and precisely, can do devastating damage to a fighter's opponent. There is one fighter that delivers an uppercut better than any other, Rocky Marciano. With a 49 - 0 professional record, it has been argued, Marciano is one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time. Of the 49 wins, 43 came via the knockout.

Rocky Marciano, born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was only 5 feet 11 inches tall, which was shorter than most heavyweights. He had very thick legs and short arms. His reach was measured at only 68 inches, which is the shortest reach ever for a heavyweight champion. Rocky's trainer, Charley Goldman, turned his physical disadvantages into his strengths. Goldman's philosophy was to make the short Marciano, fight even shorter. He made Rocky fight in a low crouch, making him harder to hit and taking advantage of his big thighs, to deliver powerful punches. With a very short reach it was imperative that Rocky fight from the inside. The most effective punch on the inside is the uppercut.

Fighting in a crouch, with big strong thighs and natural punching power made Rocky's uppercut simply the best uppercut delivered. He would throw the punch while thrusting upward to deliver it with maximum power. Rocky threw all his punches with bad intentions, but it was the uppercut that setup his big finishes. The uppercut was landed in a number of fights with the result being knockout or leading to a knockout after a couple of more punches landed. Rocky always through punches in bunches and once he knew he had his opponent hurt, he became like a rabid animal swinging, sometimes wildly, till he knocked the fighter unconscious.

Perhaps the greatest example of Rocky Marciano's destructive uppercut was the fight in 1953 against Roland LaStarza. There was a little bit of animosity built up between the two fighters from their previous fight. Rocky won a close decision, but LaStarza believed he had won the fight. Out to prove LaStarza wrong, Marciano brutalized the fighter for 11 rounds. The exclamation point came when Marciano landed a unbelievable uppercut to the jaw of LaStarza, knocking him through the ropes and out of the ring. The fight was mercifully stopped.

Nat Tashman, from the July issue of Boxing Beat, perhaps best described Rocky's powerful punch. "Considering the weight advantage Rocky gave away to opponents, few seem to know the key to his power. Fully believing in his ability to take a punch and confident he couldn't be knocked out, he'd wade in to position himself as close as he could get. Then, like lifting a weight, he'd plant his muscular, stumpy legs and thighs, and swivel hip his punch. At that point, he was delivering his full 187 pound, adrenaline-loaded wallop for the lights-out contact."

Rocky's fight record was perfect, undefeated. His KO ratio was 88%, highest of any heavyweight champion in history. His uppercut, simply devastating. It was the best!

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