Graciano Rocchigiani

Graciano Rocchigiani
Statistics
Real name Graciano Rocchigiani
Nickname(s) Rocky
Rated at Super-middleweight
Light-heavyweight
Nationality German
Born December 29, 1963
Duisburg-Rheinhausen, Germany
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights 48
Wins 41
Wins by KO 19
Losses 6(1KO)
Draws 1

Graciano "Rocky" Rocchigiani (born December 29, 1963), is a former German professional boxer who held world titles in the super-middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions.

Professional career

Rocchigiani turned pro in 1983 after a successful amateur career in which he was the 1982 German light middleweight National Amateur champion. In 1988 he captured the vacant IBF super-middleweight title by stopping Vincent Boulware, and defended the title three times before vacating to step up to the light-heavyweight division. Despite becoming European champion, Rocchigiani failed to secure a world title shot at light-heavyweight, and moved back down to super-middleweight in February 1994 to challenge WBO champion Chris Eubank in Berlin, Germany, losing a unanimous decision.

After boxing to a draw with Frederic Seillier for the European super-middleweight title in December 1994, Rocchigiani moved back up to light-heavyweight to challenge the 26-0 Henry Maske IBF title in May 1995 at the Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen. He lost by a disputed unanimous decision despite having Maske reeling numerous times towards the end of the fight, and lost a rematch later in the year, again by unanimous decision. In August 1996 Rocchigiani lost via disqualification to WBO light-heavyweight title holder Dariusz Michalczewski after hitting Michalczewski on the break during round seven. Michalczewski's prolonged, theatrical reaction to the punch was seen by many as way of getting out of a fight he was losing. Initially the result was a technical draw, later changed to a disqualification.

In 1998, Rocchigiani captured the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title by defeating Michael Nunn by split decision, but was later stripped of the title, with the WBC inexplicably claiming it was only the interim title he won in the first place. A match with WBC title holder Roy Jones was scheduled for November 1998 but was canceled without good reason by Jones' promoter, which prompted Rocchigiani to file a lawsuit.

Rocchigiani again challenged Michalczewski for the Lineal/WBO championship at Preussag Arena, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany in April 2000. By this time Rocchigiani was an aging fighter and despite a strong performance he lost via corner retirement after nine rounds. After a short lived comeback in 2003 after a two year layoff, he retired from boxing.

Although he was a notable champion, Rocchigiani's most significant achievement was his victory in 2003 in the lawsuit against the WBC, in which he was awarded a $31 million judgment for damages over the loss of his light heavyweight title.[1] The court ruling also retroactively declared him champion from when he beat Nunn until his rematch defeat to Michalczewski.[2] When the WBC announced its intentions to dissolve, he settled for an undisclosed sum.[3]

In 2006, he was sentenced to five months in jail[4] for assaulting a taxi driver.[5]

Graciano is the younger brother of former WBO cruiserweight champion Ralf Rocchigiani, who also served as Graciano's trainer during the latter stages of his career.

Professional boxing record

41 Wins (19 knockouts, 22 decisions), 6 Losses (1 knockout, 5 decisions), 1 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 41-6-1 Germany Thomas Ulrich UD 12 10/05/2003 Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany For vacant WBC International light heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 41-5-1 Canada Willard Lewis UD 8 10/02/2001 Berlin Neukoeln, Berlin, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 40-5-1 Poland Dariusz Michalczewski TKO 10 15/04/2000 Lower Saxony Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany For Lineal/WBO light heavyweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 40-4-1 United States Michael Nunn SD 12 21/03/1998 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany Won vacant WBC light heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 39-4-1 United States John Scully UD 10 22/03/1997 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 38-4-1 Poland Dariusz Michalczewski DQ 7 10/08/1996 Hamburg St. Pauli, Hamburg, Germany For WBO light heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 38-3-1 Italy Pietro Pellizzaro PTS 10 06/04/1996 Lower Saxony Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 37-3-1 Germany Henry Maske UD 12 14/10/1995 Bavaria Munich, Bayern, Germany For IBF light heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 37-2-1 Germany Henry Maske UD 12 27/05/1995 North Rhine-Westphalia Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany For IBF light heavyweight title.
Draw 37-1-1 France Frederic Seillier PTS 12 10/12/1994 Berlin Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany For European super middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 37-1 United States Willie Kemp KO 2 22/10/1994 Schleswig-Holstein Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 36-1 United States Charles Oliver TKO 6 28/05/1994 North Rhine-Westphalia Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 35-1 United Kingdom Chris Eubank UD 12 05/02/1994 Berlin Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany For WBO super middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 35-0 United States Ricky Thomas PTS 8 15/10/1993 Berlin Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 34-0 United States Kevin Whaley-El TKO 6 11/09/1993 North Rhine-Westphalia Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33-0 United States Lester Yarbrough PTS 8 26/06/1993 Hamburg Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32-0 Netherlands Alex Blanchard TKO 9 13/09/1991 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Retained European light heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31-0 United Kingdom Crawford Ashley SD 12 28/02/1991 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Won vacant European light heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30-0 Mexico Mike Sedillo PTS 8 07/12/1990 Berlin Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-0 Uruguay Rodrigo Benech KO 3 07/09/1990 Berlin Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28-0 United States John Keys KO 2 01/12/1989 Berlin Mitte, Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27-0 South Africa Thulani Malinga UD 12 27/01/1989 Berlin Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany Retained IBF super middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26-0 United States Chris Reid TKO 11 07/10/1988 Berlin Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany Retained IBF super middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-0 United States Nicky Walker UD 15 03/06/1988 Berlin Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany Retained IBF super middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24-0 United States Vincent Boulware TKO 8 11/03/1988 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Won vacant IBF super middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-0 Syria Mustafa Hamsho TKO 1 05/12/1987 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22-0 Suriname John Held PTS 8 30/10/1987 Rhineland-Palatinate Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21-0 Algeria Lahcen M'Hamdi TKO 3 17/10/1987 Lower Saxony Gifhorn, Niedersachsen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-0 United Kingdom Tommy Taylor PTS 8 03/10/1987 North Rhine-Westphalia Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19-0 France Ahmed Laghlali TKO 2 14/09/1987 Hesse Bad Homburg, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-0 Germany Manfred Jassmann PTS 12 03/10/1986 Berlin Berlin, Germany BDB German light heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-0 United Kingdom Ian Lazarus KO 8 12/05/1986 Hamburg Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16-0 United Kingdom James Cook PTS 8 01/03/1986 North Rhine-Westphalia Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-0 France Antoine Alcantara KO 2 29/11/1985 Hesse Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14-0 Germany Rudiger Bitterling TKO 3 08/11/1985 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany BDB German middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13-0 Switzerland Moussa Kassongo Mukandjo UD 10 31/08/1985 Berlin Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12-0 United Kingdom Steve Johnson PTS 6 26/04/1985 Hesse Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-0 United Kingdom Tony Jenkins TKO 6 09/03/1985 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-0 Belgium Philippe Seys PTS 8 01/12/1984 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-0 United Kingdom Tony Britton PTS 8 05/10/1984 Hesse Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8-0 Zaire Butangi Nzolameso PTS 6 15/09/1984 North Rhine-Westphalia Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7-0 Austria Franz Dorfer TKO 2 27/04/1984 Berlin Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-0 United Kingdom Mick Morris UD 4 24/02/1984 Hamburg Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-0 Brazil Mauro Hernandez da Cruz PTS 6 10/02/1984 Hesse Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-0 Belgium Chaed Ringo TKO 2 14/01/1984 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-0 Netherlands Jan Lefeber PTS 4 05/11/1983 Baden-Württemberg Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2-0 Belgium Marnix Heytens TKO 1 07/10/1983 Hesse Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-0 Austria Esperno Postl TKO 2 10/09/1983 North Rhine-Westphalia Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Professional debut.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rafael, Dan., Bankruptcy could spell doom for WBC, USA Today, 2004-06-13, Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  2. ↑ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Graciano_Rocchigiani_vs._Michael_Nunn
  3. ↑ AP., New life for WBC, USA Today, 2004-08-25, Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  4. ↑ Boxing: Ex-champ jailed over fight, Taipeitimes.com, 2006-08-13, Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  5. ↑ Rocchigiani handed assault charge, CNN.com, 2004-12-07, Retrieved on 2007-04-26.

External links

Preceded by
Chong-Pal Park
Vacated		 IBF Super Middleweight Champion
11 March 1988–1989
Vacates 		Succeeded by
Lindell Holmes
Titles in pretence
Vacant
Title last held by
Len Harvey		 WBC Light Heavyweight Champion
21 March 1998 – April 15, 2000 		Lost bid for WBO title