Rocky Marciano

5 6.2

An American boxer who is the only world heavyweight champion to retire without losing a fight

proper noun
/ˈrɑːki mɑːrˈsiːɑːnoʊ/

: Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano retired as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world in 1956.

Examples

Many consider Rocky Marciano the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.
Rocky Marciano was the only heavyweight champion to retire with an undefeated record.
Many boxing fans consider Rocky Marciano's relentless fighting style legendary among champions.
The record held by Rocky Marciano has inspired countless young athletes across generations.
Did you know that Rocky Marciano retired undefeated?
In 1956, Rocky Marciano completed his career without ever losing a match.
Few athletes can claim the legacy of Rocky Marciano, who held the heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956.

Surface Forms

Rocky Marciano main

Morphology

Rocky + Marciano

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; the constituent tokens 'Rocky' and 'Marciano' are personal names that do not compose to convey the biographical meaning (American heavyweight boxer, retired undefeated). The sense requires encyclopedic/cultural knowledge rather than being derivable from the parts, so a B1 learner who only knows the names would not be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Rocky Marciano comes from his nickname Rocky, which brings to mind a rock — solid and hard to move. He was a boxer who retired without a loss, so that 'rock' image helps you remember he was powerful and almost 'unbeatable'.