Graciano Rocchigiani (29 December 1963 – 1 October 2018) was a German professional boxer who competed from 1983 to 2003. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF super-middleweight title from 1988 to 1989, and the WBC light-heavyweight title in 1998. At regional level he held the European light-heavyweight title from 1991 to 1992. He was the younger brother of former cruiserweight world champion of boxing, Ralf Rocchigiani.
Professional career Rocchigiani turned professional in 1983 after a successful amateur career in which he won the 1982 German National Amateur championship in the light-middleweight division. 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.
Three weeks after the Michalczewski bout, it was reported that Rocchigiani had tested positive for traces of ephedrine and methylephedrine. However, the German boxing association did not request a follow-up test.
In March 1998, Rocchigiani captured the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title by defeating Michael Nunn by split decision at Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, but was demoted to "interim champion" three months later after the WBC inexplicably claimed its references in promotions and contracts to the Rocchigiani-Nunn fight as a championship bout, and to Rocchigiani as the champion in its rankings, had been "typographical errors".Rocchigiani v. World Boxing Council, Inc. A match with WBC title holder Roy Jones Jr. was scheduled for November 1999 after Rocchigiani filed a lawsuit against Jones' promotional companies M&M Sports and Square Ring Promotions Inc due to Jones' reluctance to box Rocchigiani.The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire, 3 October 1999 However, the match was canceled by Jones' promoter Murad Muhammad after Rocchigiani missed a press conference. After initially threatening to strip Jones of his title if he didn't arrange another match with Rocchigiani,WBC lawyer: Roy Jones Jr. has to fight Rocchigiani the WBC stripped Rocchigiani outright and removed him from their rankings due to inactivity, which prompted Rocchigiani to file a lawsuit against the WBC. Rocchigiani won the suit and he was awarded $31m by a federal judge. Rocchigiani would agree to the WBC's pleas for a smaller 10-year payment plan so the WBC could avoid bankruptcy.
Rocchigiani again challenged Michalczewski for the lineal and WBO titles 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.
Outside of 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.Rafael, Dan., Bankruptcy could spell doom for WBC, USA Today, 2004-06-13, Retrieved on 2007-04-26. The court ruling also retroactively declared him champion from when he beat Nunn until his rematch defeat to Michalczewski. When the WBC announced its intentions to dissolve, he settled for an undisclosed sum.AP., New life for WBC, USA Today, 2004-08-25, Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
In 2006, he was sentenced to five months in jailBoxing: Ex-champ jailed over fight, Taipeitimes.com, 2006-08-13, Retrieved on 2007-04-26. for assaulting a taxi driver.Rocchigiani handed assault charge, CNN.com, 2004-12-07, Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
Graciano was the younger brother of former WBO cruiserweight champion Ralf Rocchigiani, who also served as Graciano's trainer during the latter stages of his career.
He died on 1 October 2018 in Belpasso, Italy when he was run over by a car while taking a walk.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes48LossThomas UlrichUD1210 May 200347Win41–5–1Willard LewisUD810 Feb 200146Loss40–5–1Dariusz MichalczewskiTKO10 (12), 15 Apr 200045Win40–4–1Michael NunnSD1221 Mar 199844Win39–4–1John ScullyUD1022 Mar 199743Loss38–4–1Dariusz Michalczewski7 (12), 10 Aug 199642Win38–3–1Pietro PellizzaroPTS106 Apr 199641Loss37–3–1Henry MaskeUD1214 Oct 199540Loss37–2–1Henry MaskeUD1227 May 199539Draw37–1–1Frederic Seillier1210 Dec 199438Win37–1Willie KempKO222 Oct 199437Win36–1Charles OliverTKO6 (10)28 May 199436Loss35–1Chris EubankUD125 Feb 199435Win35–0Ricky ThomasPTS815 Oct 199334Win34–0Kevin Whaley-ElTKO6 (8)11 Sep 199333Win33–0Lester YarbroughPTS826 Jun 199332Win32–0Alex BlanchardTKO9 (12)13 Sep 199131Win31–0Crawford Ashley1228 Feb 199130Win30–0Mike SedilloPTS87 Dec 199029Win29–0Rodrigo BenechKO3 (10)7 Sep 199028Win28–0John KeysKO2, 1 Dec 198927Win27–0Thulani MalingaUD1227 Jan 198926Win26–0Chris ReidTKO11 (12), 7 Oct 198825Win25–0Nicky WalkerUD153 Jun 198824Win24–0Vincent BoulwareTKO8 (15), 11 Mar 198823Win23–0Mustafa HamshoTKO1, 5 Dec 198722Win22–0John HeldPTS830 Oct 198721Win21–0Lahcen M'HamdiTKO317 Oct 198720Win20–0Tommy TaylorPTS83 Oct 198719Win19–0Ahmed LaghlaliTKO214 Sep 198718Win18–0Manfred JassmannPTS123 Oct 198617Win17–0Ian LazarusKO8 (8)12 May 198616Win16–0James CookPTS81 Mar 198615Win15–0Antoine Alcantara229 Nov 198514Win14–0Rudiger BitterlingTKO38 Nov 198513Win13–0Moussa Kassongo MukandjoUD1031 Aug 198512Win12–0Steve JohnsonPTS626 Apr 198511Win11–0Tony JenkinsTKO6 (8)9 Mar 198510Win10–0Philippe SeysPTS81 Dec 19849Win9–0Tony BrittonPTS85 Oct 19848Win8–0Butangi NzolamesoPTS615 Sep 19847Win7–0Franz DorferTKO227 Apr 19846Win6–0Mick Morris424 Feb 19845Win5–0Mauro Hernandez da CruzPTS610 Feb 19844Win4–0Chaed RingoTKO214 Jan 19843Win3–0Jan Lefeber45 Nov 19832Win2–0Marnix HeytensTKO17 Oct 19831Win1–0Esperno Postl2 (6)10 Sep 1983
See also List of boxing families
References
External links