Roland La Starza


Roland La Starza was an American boxer and actor. La Starza was a top rated heavyweight contender in the early 1950s and is best known for his two fights with heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in 1927, La Starza grew up in the Van Nest section of the Bronx. La Starza’s skills for boxing showed early, and he would become a very crafty out-boxer and counterpuncher. He had a very successful amateur career, winning five Golden Gloves titles in New York in 1944 and 1945. He began his professional career on July 7, 1947, and in less than three years, put together an undefeated record of 37 straight victories. This would line him up for a fight with another undefeated, rising heavyweight.

Fights with Marciano

La Starza and Rocky Marciano met for the first time in Madison Square Garden on March 24, 1950. La Straza fought well, and although the fight went against him on a split decision, La Starza may have come closer than any other boxer to defeating Marciano. The scoring for the bout was 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5, but La Starza lost on a supplemental point system used by New York and Massachusetts at that time. La Starza felt he was robbed of victory, and even went on record in the New York Herald Tribune, March 25, 1950, as saying, "The fact is manager Al Weill was matchmaker for the Garden. I would say that had a lot to do with the decision." He maintained that belief for over 50 years after the bout.
Over the next three years, La Starza fought 18 more times,, and eventually won a heavyweight title eliminator against Rex Layne in early 1953. This set himself up for what would be the most important fight of his career: a world heavyweight championship bout which was also a rematch against Marciano on September 24, 1953. The fight took place in an outdoor venue—the Polo Grounds in New York City. La Starza fought Marciano quite well for the first six rounds, but began to wear down as he took more punishment. Referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight in an eleventh round. Shortly before the fight was stopped, Marciano had knocked La Starza through the ropes. La Starza beat Goldstein's count, but the bout was stopped shortly thereafter on a TKO as Marciano battered the challenger relentlessly. This was the first of only two times La Starza was stopped during his career.

Later career

Following the title bout, La Starza was hospitalized for injuries sustained during the fight, and required surgery to treat the damage done to his arms. He continued his boxing career but was never the same again. He lost his next match in March 1954 to British champion Don Cockell, and went on to lose half of his subsequent eight fights. La Starza finally retired after his final fight on May 8, 1961. During his over 14 year long career, he fought a total of 446 rounds in 66 professional fights, and won 57 of them with 27 by knockout.
After his boxing career La Starza appeared on television in a number of stereotypical tough-guy roles. His biggest break was a regular role as Pvt. Ernie Lucavich on the short-lived World War II series The Gallant Men. He also did guest appearances on various shows including 77 Sunset Strip, The Wild Wild West and Perry Mason. He appeared in two episodes of the Batman series of the 1960s, and appeared in movies including Point Blank and The Outfit.
He, his wife and two children left California to retire at their family's cattle ranch outside of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, in 1972.
La Starza died on September 30, 2009, in Port Orange, Florida, at the age of 82.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
66Loss57–9Monroe RatliffUD10May 8, 1961Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
65Win57–8Ike ThomasTKO3, 2:20Dec 21, 1960Plaza Ballroom, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
64Win56–8Danny LoganTKO7, 0:45Nov 30, 1960Plaza Ballroom, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
63Loss55–8Larry ZernitzSD10Dec 1, 1958St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
62Win55–7Al AndersonSD10Oct 8, 1957Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
61Win54–7Jimmy McMillanTKO3 Jun 11, 1957Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
60Loss53–7Julio MederosKO5, 1:37Mar 2, 1955Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
59Loss53–6Charley NorkusUD10Dec 1, 1954Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
58Loss53–5Don CockellPTS10Mar 30, 1954Earls Court Arena, London, England
57Loss53–4Rocky MarcianoTKO11 Sep 24, 1953Polo Grounds, Manhattan, New York, U.S.For NYSAC, NBA and The Ring heavyweight titles
56Win53–3Rex LayneSD10Feb 13, 1953Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
55Win52–3Rocky JonesUD10Dec 1, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
54Loss51–3Rocky JonesUD10Oct 9, 1952Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
53Win51–2Dan BucceroniUD10May 13, 1952Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
52Win50–2Joe McFaddenTKO5, 2:07Apr 18, 1952St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
51Win49–2Ralph SchneiderUD10Feb 13, 1952Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
50Win48–2Bill WilsonKO4, 1:46Feb 1, 1952Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
49Loss47–2Dan BucceroniUD10Dec 21, 1951Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
48Win47–1Ted LowryUD10Aug 3, 1951Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S.
47Win46–1Gene FeltonKO3 Jun 11, 1951Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
46Win45–1Vern MitchellTKO8, 1:38May 4, 1951St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
45Win44–1Keene SimmonsUD10Mar 12, 1951Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
44Win43–1Curt KennedyTKO6, 2:26Feb 5, 1951Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
43Win42–1Ted LowryUD10Jan 15, 1951Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
42Win41–1Duilio SpagnoloUD10Oct 20, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
41Win40–1Keene SimmonsUD8Aug 25, 1950Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S.
40Win39–1Georgie FullerTKO9, 1:50May 13, 1950Mara's Arena, Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
39Win38–1Jimmy WallsKO3, 0:58May 1, 1950Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
38Loss37–1Rocky MarcianoSD10Mar 24, 1950Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
37Win37–0César BrionUD10Dec 2, 1949Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
36Win36–0Walter HaferKO9, 2:26Oct 29, 1949St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
35Win35–0Joe DominicPTS6Sep 2, 1949Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S.
34Win34–0Jackie LyonsTKO5 Jul 29, 1949Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S.
33Win33–0Harry HaftTKO4, 0:25Jun 27, 1949Coney Island Velodrome, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
32Win32–0Jimmy CarolloUD10Jun 9, 1949Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S.
31Win31–0Eldridge EatmanUD8Apr 28, 1949Sunnyside Garden, Queens, New York, U.S.
30Win30–0Gino BuonvinoTKO6, 0:32Feb 25, 1949Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
29Win29–0Bill WeinbergPTS8Jan 14, 1949Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
28Win28–0Gene GosneyTKO7, 1:03Dec 10, 1948Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
27Win27–0Don MogardUD8Nov 6, 1948Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
26Win26–0Mike JacobsPTS6Oct 20, 1948Jamaica Arena, Queens, New York, U.S.
25Win25–0Don MogardPTS6Sep 23, 1948Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
24Win24–0Mel McKinneyKO4, 1:29Aug 30, 1948Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S.
23Win23–0Teddy GeorgesTKO2, 1:16Aug 17, 1948MacArthur Stadium, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
22Win22–0Oscar GoodeTKO4 1:29Jul 27, 1948MacArthur Stadium, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
21Win21–0Tony GangemiUD8Jul 14, 1948Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
20Win20–0Benny RuskPTS6Jun 25, 1948Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
19Win19–0Freddie McManusUD6May 4, 1948Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
18Win18–0John HollowayTKO5, 1:31Apr 24, 1948Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
17Win17–0Claude McClintockPTS6Apr 7, 1948State Armory, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
16Win16–0Steve KingPTS6Mar 19, 1948Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
15Win15–0Jimmy WhiteKO2, 0:29Feb 24, 1948Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
14Win14–0Frankie ReedTKO4 Feb 14, 1948Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
13Win13–0Mike BelluscioPTS6Jan 30, 1948Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0Luther McMillanPTS6Dec 23, 1947Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0Fred RamseyTKO4, 1:01Dec 13, 1947Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
10Win10–0Matt MincyPTS6Dec 1, 1947St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0Lorne McCarthyPTS6Nov 11, 1947Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
8Win8–0Jimmy EvansPTS6Oct 31, 1947Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
7Win7–0Matt MincyPTS6Oct 21, 1947Park Arena, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0Zeke BrownKO1, 1:04Oct 10, 1947St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0Jim JohnsonKO1 Sep 9, 1947Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
4Win4–0Jimmy DoddTKO4, 3:00Aug 25, 1947Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S.
3Win3–0Al ZappalaKO5 Aug 12, 1947Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
2Win2–0Zack JohnsonKO6, 0:49Jul 15, 1947Jerome Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0Dave GlantonPTS6Jul 7, 1947Queensboro Arena, Queens, New York, U.S.