1. Attilio N "Rocky" Castellani was an American boxer.
36 Facts About Rocky Castellani
1. 2.
Rocky Castellani fought as a middleweight and was the top rated contender for the world middleweight crown in 1954 when he fought Bobo Olson, a year later Castellani lost to Sugar Ray Robinson.
3.
Castellani was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to Attilio Castellani and Rose Isopi Castellani, who later moved to Margate City, formerly South Atlantic City.
4.
Rocky Castellani began boxing as a teenager at local gyms, and at a younger age would box opponents to entertain neighborhood kids.
5.
Rocky Castellani boxed in the Marine Corps and won the title of "Champion of All China and Guam".
6.
Rocky Castellani staggered his opponent in the third round, winning the bout from long range, and defending DeMicco's attempts to fight inside.
7.
Rocky Castellani was voted Ring Magazine's "Rookie of the Year" in 1948.
8.
On September 9,1949, Rocky Castellani lost to Kid Gavilan in a ten-round unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden.
9.
Rocky Castellani was knocked down in both rounds two and three, but surged in the middle rounds despite his hard tumble in round two.
10.
Rocky Castellani showed conditioning and skill but suffered in points from his two knockdowns.
11.
The Associated Press gave six rounds to Gavilan, and only three to Rocky Castellani, as did one of the judges.
12.
Rocky Castellani took charge of the future champion between the fourth and the ninth, though appeared to be coasting.
13.
Rocky Castellani had taken four months off from a rib injury he received during training.
14.
On June 18,1952, Rocky Castellani defeated Johnny Bratton at Chicago Stadium.
15.
On January 9,1953, Rocky Castellani defeated Ralph Jones at Madison Square Garden before 5,400 fans in an important win before a home crowd that clearly favored Rocky Castellani as their local boy.
16.
The Associated Press gave the fight to Rocky Castellani, winning six rounds, losing three, and drawing one.
17.
Only one judge dissented from a voting for Rocky Castellani, resulting in a split decision.
18.
Jones was never able to fight in close as Rocky Castellani circled, jabbed, hooked, and threw leading rights.
19.
Rocky Castellani clinched, armlocked or hugged when Jones attempted in-fighting, and was successful at backing away to avoid the close shots at which Jones could be dangerous.
20.
The bout was a convincing display of in-fighting defense by Rocky Castellani, who claimed he had learned Jones's style by watching his bout with Johnny Bratton on television.
21.
Jones' strongest winning round was the fifth when he swept Rocky Castellani with sweeping body attacks, and he was down from slips in the seventh and tenth rounds.
22.
On February 6,1953, Rocky Castellani lost to Frenchman Pierre Langlois in twelve rounds before 4,887 fans in a Madison Garden upset Split Decision.
23.
The bout confirmed Rocky Castellani's standing as the top contender for the title in the United States.
24.
Eleven of fifteen boxing writers thought Castellani had won, but the judges who believed Castellani had been knocked down in the eleventh from a blow by Langlois gave the decision to him and removed Rocky's hopes to advance in the tournament.
25.
The highlight of Rocky Castellani's career was his ten-round split decision near Hollywood, California on July 22,1955, against Hall of Famer and world middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson.
26.
Rocky Castellani lost the split decision but knocked Robinson down in the sixth round for a count of nine, though Robinson quickly rose and resumed the bout.
27.
Rocky Castellani had difficulty going to the head of Castellani, though he did at times when his opponent occasionally lowered his defense.
28.
On January 4,1956, Rocky Castellani lost to talented middleweight Gene Fullmer in a televised bout at the Arena in Cleveland, losing in a very close, ten round Split Decision.
29.
When Rocky Castellani went to the inside, Fullmer frequently landed blows to Rocky Castellani's mid-section, usually with his left.
30.
Fullmer was rated fourth in the world middleweight standings behind Rocky Castellani who was rated among the top three contenders for the crown.
31.
Rocky Castellani retreated constantly throughout the first five rounds only rarely moving to make a punch and unable to face the stronger, and better skilled Giambra.
32.
Rocky Castellani stayed with the combination, and it paid off especially in the ninth when he dropped Castellani in the ninth for a three count.
33.
Rocky Castellani was inducted into both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame and was later inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
34.
Rocky Castellani died in Atlantic City, New Jersey at the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center on August 31,2008.
35.
Rocky Castellani was survived by his wife Mary, to whom he was married 58 years, his three sons, daughter, and ten grandchildren.
36.
Rocky Castellani was buried at the Atlantic County Veteran's Cemetery.