Rocky Marciano Heavy Bag for Punching Boxing – Personal Collection COA Affadavit

September 21st 1955, Rocky Marciano threw his last punch as a professional boxer knocking out Archie Moore in the ninth round, retiring with a 49 and 0 record 43 by knockout. In the ‘50’s Rocky designed two punching bags for his personal use. The bag offered in this sale is a one-hundred-pound cylinder bag measuring 48″ high, with a 50″ circumference. The bag is authenticated with seven affidavits, including Lou (Sonny) Marciano; Rocky’s brother. This bag’s history is rooted in blood, sweat, success, friendship, power and pride. We have only displayed the bags once before to the public. In 1994 they was on loan to the Western Reserve Historical Society, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Bag’s Story…

In the 60’s the ‘Mayor of Little Italy’ of Cleveland, Ohio was Pete DiGravio. Pete was a very close friend of Rocky Marciano. Pete is my wife’s uncle.

Rocky and Pete were not only friends, they owned a few businesses together. When Rocky would come to town, he would often stay at Pete’s house where the two spent hours working out. One day while training on one of Pete’s punching bags, Rocky busted it open destroying the bag.  He wanted to pay Pete for the bag but Pete said don’t worry about it. Time passed and Rocky was about to retire. He gave Pete a call and asked him to drive up to Grossingers Training Camp in N.Y. and that he had a surprise for him.  Pete and a couple of his friends took a ride and meet up with Rocky. It was there and then that Rocky gave Pete his two personal punching bags.

That’s right there are two bags, a 100-pound cylinder style which I am selling now and a 200-pound monster. Back in the 60’s it was common for a fighter to bring to camp his own bags. Rocky had commissioned a company to make these two for his exclusive use.  Both bags are made from kangaroo leather.  There are no markings on the bags, only the grove in the big one where Rocky used to hang it from the rafters and work his uppercut.

That day Pete brought the two bags to his home in Cleveland and hung them in his basement.

More time passes and one day on the par 3 -16th hole at Orchard Hills Golf course just outside of Cleveland, Pete was gunned down. There are plenty of stories of this account, but only a few know the complete truth. A year later Rocky died in a plane crash.

I have seven affidavits from people who were there, that all say the same thing, plus Lou (Sonny) Marciano reached out to me a couple years ago and authenticated the bags saying they are undoubtedly Rocky’s.  I also have his affidavit.

Our family has been in possession of these bags for more than 50 years and they are now for sale. This is your chance to own a piece of boxing history. These are the only Rocky Marciano Personal Bags in the world.