Rocky graziano

Thomas Rocco Barbella January 1, [ 1 ] — May 22, , better known as Rocky Graziano , was an American professional boxer and actor who held the World Middleweight title. 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.

Graziano was the son of Ida Scinto and Nicola Barbella.

Rocky graziano children

The elder Barbella, nicknamed Fighting Nick Bob , was a boxer with a brief fighting record. He grew up as a street fighter and learned to look after himself before he could read or write. He spent years in reform school, jail, and Catholic protectories. When he was three years old, Barbella would make Rocky and his brother, Joe three years his senior , fight almost every night.

At age 18 Rocky won the Metropolitan A. Despite the fame and money that professional fighting seemed to offer, Rocky did not want to become a serious prize fighter. He did not like the discipline of training any more than he liked the discipline of school or the Army.