Rocky Marciano, an American boxer of Italian descent, defended his heavyweight title from the National Boxing Association in two famous boxing matches against former heavyweight world champion Ezzard Charles. Both fights were held at Yankee Stadium in New York, the first on 17 June 1954 and the second exactly three months later, on 17 September 1954. The first fight went the full distance, 15 rounds, and Marciano won by unanimous decision, on points. In the second fight, Marciano knocked out Charles in the eighth round.

In his 49 fights (49 wins), Marciano had 43 knockouts, for a knockout-to-win ratio of 87.76%, the highest of all heavyweight world champions in the history of professional boxing. Marciano ended his career as the first undefeated heavyweight world champion and is considered one of the most successful boxers in the history of the sport, by virtue of this accomplishment as well as his high knockout-to-win ratio. He was world champion from 1952 to 1956. Marciano died in an airplane crash on the day before his 46th birthday.

The American boxer Ezzard Charles (95 wins in 121 fights, with one draw and 25 losses), was the undisputed heavyweight world champion from 1949 to 1951. Charles has the “honor” of being the only boxer to last for 15 rounds against Marciano.

Rocky Marciano and Ezzard Charles were both inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.