Graciano Rocchigiani boxer

Graciano Rocchigiani boxer
bouts
48
won
41
lost
6
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
light heavyweight
Debut
1983-09-10
Height
6′ 1″/185cm
Reach
74½″/189cm
Age
54
Born
1963-12-29
Death
2018-10-02
Nationality
Germany

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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.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". A match with WBC title holder Roy Jones 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. 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, the WBC stripped Rocchigiani outright and removed him from their rankings due to inactivity, which prompted Rocchigiani to file a lawsuit against the WBC. The case went Rocchigiani's way and he was awarded $31m, however the WBC paid a smaller sum, to 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.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
2003-05-10 Thomas Ulrich WWLWWW Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart LOST
Unanimous decision
2001-02-10 Willard Lewis WDLLLL Estrel Convention Center, Neukoelln WIN
Unanimous decision
2000-04-15 Dariusz Michalczewski WWWWWW Preussag Arena, Hannover LOST
Corner retirement
1998-03-21 Michael Nunn WWWWWW Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg WIN
Split-decision
1997-03-22 John Scully WWWLWL Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg WIN
Unanimous decision
1996-08-10 Dariusz Michalczewski WWWWWW Wilhelm-Koch-Stadion, St. Pauli LOST
1996-04-06 Pietro Pellizzaro LLLWLW Stadionsporthalle, Hannover WIN
Points
1995-10-14 Henry Maske WWWWWW Olympiahalle, Munich LOST
Unanimous decision
1995-05-27 Henry Maske WWWWWW Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund LOST
Unanimous decision
1994-12-10 Frederic Seillier WLWWWW Sportforum, Lichtenberg DRAW
Points
1994-10-22 Willie Kemp LLLLLL Hansehalle, Luebeck WIN
KO
1994-05-28 Charles Oliver WWWWWW Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen WIN
Technical knockout
1994-02-05 Chris Eubank WWWWDD Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg LOST
Unanimous decision
1993-10-15 Ricky Thomas LLLLLL Sporthalle, Schoeneberg WIN
Points
1993-09-11 Kevin Whaley-El LLLLLL Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen WIN
Technical knockout
1993-06-26 Lester Yarbrough LLLLLL Sporthalle, Alsterdorf WIN
Points
1991-09-13 Alex Blanchard LWWWWW Philips Halle, Düsseldorf WIN
Technical knockout
1991-02-28 Crawford Ashley WWWWWW Philips Halle, Düsseldorf WIN
Split-decision
1990-12-07 Mike Sedillo WLLWLL WIN
Points
1990-09-07 Rodrigo Benech DWWLWW Sporthalle Charlottenburg, Charlottenburg WIN
KO
1989-12-01 John Keys WLLLLL Inter-Continental Hotel, Mitte WIN
KO
1989-01-27 Thulani Malinga LWLWWW Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg WIN
Unanimous decision
1988-10-07 Chris Reid WLWWDW Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg WIN
Technical knockout
1988-06-03 Nicky Walker WWWWWW Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg WIN
Unanimous decision
1988-03-11 Vincent Boulware WWWWWW Philips Halle, Düsseldorf WIN
Technical knockout
1987-12-05 Mustafa Hamsho WWWWLW Philips Halle, Düsseldorf WIN
Technical knockout
1987-10-30 John Held WLWLWW Kurfurstliches, Mainz WIN
Points
1987-10-17 Lahcen M'Hamdi LLLLLL Sporthalle, Gifhorn WIN
Technical knockout
1987-10-03 Tommy Taylor WWLWLL Safari Park Variety Hall, Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock WIN
Points
1987-09-14 Ahmed Laghlali LWLLLL Tennis Stab Verein, Bad Homburg WIN
Technical knockout
1986-10-03 Manfred Jassmann WDWWWW WIN
Points
1986-05-12 Ian Lazarus WLLWLL Tennishalle, Bad Homburg WIN
KO
1986-03-01 James Cook WWWLWL Cologne WIN
Points
1985-11-29 Antoine Alcantara WLLDL Frankfurt WIN
KO
1985-11-08 Rudiger Bitterling LWLLLL Düsseldorf WIN
Technical knockout
1985-08-31 Moussa Kassongo Mukandjo WDWWLW Charlottenburg WIN
Unanimous decision
1985-04-26 Steve Johnson LWWWLW Festhalle, Frankfurt WIN
Points
1985-03-09 Tony Jenkins WWLWWD Düsseldorf WIN
Technical knockout
1984-12-01 Filip Seys WWWLWW Düsseldorf WIN
Points
1984-10-05 Tony Britton LWWWLW Festhalle, Frankfurt WIN
Points
1984-09-15 Butangi Nzolameso WLWLLD Dortmund WIN
Points
1984-04-27 Franz Dorfer LWWWWL WIN
Technical knockout
1984-02-24 Mick Morris WLLDLL Sporthalle, Alsterdorf WIN
Unanimous decision
1984-02-10 Mauro Fernandes da Cruz LLLLLL Sporthalle Süd, Frankfurt WIN
Points
1984-01-14 Chaed Ringo LLLDLL Düsseldorf WIN
Technical knockout
1983-11-05 Jan Lefeber WWWW Mannheim WIN
Points
1983-10-07 Marnix Heytens LWWLLL Frankfurt WIN
Technical knockout
1983-09-10 Esperno Postl WLLLLL Cologne WIN
Technical knockout

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