Roland La Starza

The Bronx, New York, USA - Roland La Starza was a clever, disciplined heavyweight contender whose skill and composure brought him closer than almost anyone to defeating the unbeaten Rocky Marciano.

A polished defensive boxer from the Bronx, La Starza began his professional career with 37 consecutive victories and eventually challenged Marciano for the world heavyweight championship. Although the title eluded him, his two encounters with the Brockton powerhouse secured his place in heavyweight history.

La Starza finished his career with a record of 57-9 (27 KOs) before successfully transitioning from the boxing ring to film and television.

A Boxer from the Bronx

Roland La Starza was born on May 12, 1927, and raised in the Van Nest neighbourhood of the Bronx, New York.

He demonstrated considerable athletic ability as a young man and developed into an accomplished amateur boxer. Competing in New York’s intensely competitive amateur scene, La Starza won five Golden Gloves titles during 1944 and 1945.

Unlike many heavyweights of his generation, La Starza relied primarily on timing, technique and defensive intelligence. He possessed quick feet, a sharp jab and an instinctive ability to anticipate punches. Rather than attempting to overwhelm opponents with raw power, he controlled distance, counterpunched effectively and forced aggressive fighters to miss.

His intelligence and movie-star appearance made him one of the division’s most distinctive young contenders.

An Undefeated Rise

La Starza made his professional debut on July 7, 1947, with a first-round knockout of Mickey McGee.

He progressed rapidly, fighting frequently and defeating every opponent placed before him. Within fewer than three years, La Starza had compiled an unbeaten record of 37-0 and established himself as one of America’s leading young heavyweights.

His rise placed him on a collision course with another undefeated contender: Rocky Marciano.

Marciano entered their meeting with a record of 25-0, including 23 knockouts. He represented the opposite stylistic extreme—a relentless pressure fighter with crushing power, exceptional stamina and little concern for conventional technique.

La Starza, meanwhile, was the smoother and more technically refined boxer.

The Fight That Nearly Changed History

Roland La Starza and Rocky Marciano met at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 1950.

Marciano knocked La Starza down with a right hand in the fourth round, but the Bronx contender recovered and used his jab, movement and defensive skill to frustrate the powerful favourite. La Starza made Marciano miss repeatedly and countered effectively throughout the closely contested ten-round fight.

When the final bell sounded, the officials were divided.

One judge scored the fight 5-4 for La Starza, another had Marciano ahead 5-4, and referee Jack Watson scored it even at five rounds apiece. Under New York’s supplemental scoring system, Watson awarded Marciano an additional point, giving him the split-decision victory.

The verdict was widely disputed at ringside. La Starza remained convinced that he had won, and many observers believed he had done enough to hand Marciano the only defeat of his professional career.

No opponent would ever come closer to changing Marciano’s perfect record.

Fighting His Way Back

The controversial defeat interrupted La Starza’s unbeaten run, but he remained a prominent heavyweight contender.

His route toward a championship opportunity was not straightforward. La Starza suffered decision losses to Dan Bucceroni and Rocky Jones, but demonstrated his determination by returning to defeat both men in rematches.

Those victories re-established him among the division’s leading challengers.

In February 1953, La Starza defeated the dangerous Rex Layne in a major heavyweight elimination bout. The victory finally secured the championship opportunity he had pursued since his disputed first encounter with Marciano.

By then, Marciano had knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott to become world heavyweight champion and had demolished him in their rematch.

More than three years after their first meeting, La Starza would receive another chance.

The Championship Rematch

Marciano and La Starza met for the second time on September 24, 1953, before more than 44,000 spectators at the Polo Grounds in New York City.

La Starza entered the ring confident that he possessed the style needed to defeat the champion. During the opening rounds, that confidence appeared justified.

Using intelligent movement, accurate counterpunching and an effective defence, La Starza outboxed Marciano through much of the first half of the fight. The challenger won four of the opening six rounds on some accounts and forced the champion to make a tactical adjustment.

Beginning in the seventh round, Marciano redirected his attack toward La Starza’s body. His relentless hooks and combinations gradually weakened the challenger, reducing his movement and leaving him increasingly vulnerable along the ropes.

Marciano’s pressure became overwhelming.

By the later rounds, La Starza was bleeding around both eyes and absorbing tremendous punishment. In the 11th round, Marciano drove him through the ropes and onto the ring apron. La Starza bravely climbed back into the ring, but referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the contest moments later.

Marciano had retained the heavyweight championship by technical knockout.

The dramatic battle was selected as The Ring magazine’s 1953 Fight of the Year. Afterward, La Starza acknowledged that Marciano had improved enormously since their first meeting.

The Physical Cost

The championship fight took a severe physical toll on La Starza.

Marciano’s punishing body attack reportedly damaged blood vessels and muscles in both of La Starza’s arms, requiring surgery. Although he eventually returned to competition, he was never quite the same fighter.

In March 1954, La Starza travelled to London and lost a decision to British contender Don Cockell. Further defeats followed as the speed, reflexes and confidence that had defined his prime gradually diminished.

La Starza continued competing intermittently before retiring in 1961. His final professional record stood at 57-9 (27 KOs) across 66 bouts.

From Boxing to Acting

La Starza possessed the appearance, confidence and personality required to build a second career in entertainment.

He appeared regularly in film and television, most notably portraying Private Ernie Lucavich in the Second World War series The Gallant Men. He also made guest appearances in popular television programs including Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip and The Wild Wild West.

His film credits included roles in Point Blank and The Outfit.

La Starza’s move into acting distinguished him from many retired fighters and demonstrated the versatility that had characterized his life inside and outside the ring.

In 1972, he and his wife, Jane, moved with their two children to a family cattle ranch near New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Roland La Starza died in Port Orange, Florida, on September 30, 2009. He was 82 years old.

Roland La Starza’s Legacy

Roland La Starza should be remembered as far more than another challenger defeated during Rocky Marciano’s unbeaten career.

At his best, La Starza was one of the finest defensive heavyweights of his generation—a composed, intelligent boxer capable of neutralizing physically stronger opponents through movement, timing and ringcraft.

His disputed first meeting with Marciano remains central to his legacy. La Starza pushed the future champion to the narrowest possible decision and came within a supplemental point of altering one of boxing’s most famous undefeated records.

Three years later, he earned a legitimate championship opportunity and again demonstrated his quality before Marciano’s pressure finally broke him down.

La Starza never became heavyweight champion, but he proved that he belonged among the leading contenders of his era. His skill, courage and two historic battles with Marciano ensured that his name would remain part of heavyweight boxing history.