Steve Rocco

Steve Rocco (1908 – January 13, 1967) was an Italian-Canadian former professional flyweight boxer. He won the Canadian flyweight boxing championship in 1928.

Early life Stephen Gerald Rocco was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was of Italian descent.

In his early years, he worked as a newsboy in Toronto.

Amateur boxing career The former newsboy started competing in local amateur boxing shows. At the Ontario Amateur Boxing Championships in Toronto in April 1925, held under the Ontario A.A.U., Rocco won the 105-pound weight class championship.

In a notable rematch on May 26, 1926, he defeated Bobby Leitham, the Canadian amateur flyweight titleholder, for the second time. Rocco received a standing ovation both upon leaving the ring and again when receiving the cup from a local sportsman.

The provincial champion also held the title of international amateur flyweight champion but forfeited his amateur status, disqualifying him as a candidate for the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Professional career Rocco was initially denied professional bouts in Toronto because amateur boxing authorities hoped to reserve him for the Canadian Olympic team. He relocated to Detroit, where he broke into the professional ranks as a main event fighter. Making his pro debut in January 1928, he went undefeated in his first ten professional fights. His manager was Willie Morrisey.

Taking the Canadian flyweight championship, June 1928 At the Arena Gardens on June 5, 1928, Rocco took on former world flyweight champion Frenchy Belanger for the Canadian flyweight championship. Rocco had only nine professional fights to his name and had never experienced a bout longer than six rounds. He beat Belanger via unanimous decision after ten rounds to win the title.

Rocco went on to secure a points win against the more experienced Marty Gold of Philadelphia in September 1928. It marked the second time he boxed for the world championship. The championship bout at the Detroit Olympia ended early with a controversial unintentional foul in the second round.

The Ring magazine's 1928 annual ratings placed him fourth among the world's flyweights, behind champion Izzy Schwartz, Frankie Genaro, and Johnny Hill.

Losing the Canadian flyweight championship, January 1929 Rocco's second bout with Frenchy Belanger came on January 4, 1929, where he lost his title in the championship fight officiated by Lou Marsh. The purse was divided, with Rocco earning about $3,500 and Belanger getting $2,300.

The former champion took part in a world flyweight elimination tournament held by Toronto's Shamrock Athletic Club to determine Eugène Huat's opponent. He beat Happy Atherton in November 1929, and his following match with Willie Davies that December was ruled a no-contest. He was later outpointed by Davies in a January 1930 rematch.

Rocco secured back-to-back victories over Filipino champion Pablo Dano in 1930, taking the first fight in February by unanimous decision and the second on points. Three days after fighting Dano for the second time, he dropped a close split decision to Franklyn Young before bouncing back with wins against Marty Gold, Luis Carpentero, and Johnny Goodrich. He fought Babe Triscaro in November 1931, and the winner was set to face U.S. champion Midget Wolgast for his NYSAC title. In the six-round bout held in Cleveland, he was outpointed by Triscaro,

The Toronto boxer was remanded for a week in June 1932 following his failure to appear in court on a charge of being a "found-in" at the Italian Recreation Club, which had been raided by police. Another raid in November 1932, months afterward, led to Rocco's arrest and the charge of keeping a gaming house. Police reported he was employed as the boxing instructor at the Continental Athletic Club, yet they noted little boxing in the clubrooms and discovered an alleged gambling operation with stuss games in progress instead.

During his time of inactivity, he disappeared from the NBA flyweight rankings.

Rocco staged his return in March 1933, fighting the first of three final bouts in Toronto. He outpointed Gold over six rounds. His final fight took place against Bobby Clary at the Maple Leaf Gardens on May 26, 1933.

Death Steve Rocco died on January 13, 1967, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 59.