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
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 |