Graciano Rocchigiani


Graciano Rocchigiani 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.

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". 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.

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. 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.
In 2006, he was sentenced to five months in jail for assaulting a taxi driver.
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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
48Loss41–6–1 Thomas UlrichUD1210 May 2003 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, GermanyFor vacant WBC International light-heavyweight title
47Win41–5–1 Willard LewisUD810 Feb 2001 Estrel Hotel, Berlin, Germany
46Loss40–5–1 Dariusz MichalczewskiTKO10, 3:0015 Apr 2000 Preussag Arena, Hanover, GermanyFor WBO and lineal light-heavyweight titles
45Win40–4–1 Michael NunnSD1221 Mar 1998 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyWon vacant WBC light-heavyweight title
44Win39–4–1 John ScullyUD1022 Mar 1997 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
43Loss38–4–1 Dariusz Michalczewski7, 3:0010 Aug 1996 Wilhelm-Koch-Stadion, Hamburg, GermanyFor WBO light-heavyweight title;
Rocchigiani disqualified for punching after a clinch
42Win38–3–1 Pietro PellizzaroPTS106 Apr 1996 Stadionsporthalle, Hanover, Germany
41Loss37–3–1 Henry MaskeUD1214 Oct 1995 Olympiahalle, Munich, GermanyFor IBF light-heavyweight title
40Loss37–2–1 Henry MaskeUD1227 May 1995 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, GermanyFor IBF light-heavyweight title
39Draw37–1–1 Frederic Seillier1210 Dec 1994 Sportforum Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, GermanyFor European super-middleweight title
38Win37–1 Willie KempKO222 Oct 1994 Hansehalle, Lübeck, Germany
37Win36–1 Charles OliverTKO6 28 May 1994 Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany
36Loss35–1 Chris EubankUD125 Feb 1994 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, GermanyFor WBO super-middleweight title
35Win35–0 Ricky ThomasPTS815 Oct 1993 Sporthalle Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany
34Win34–0 Kevin Whaley-ElTKO6 11 Sep 1993 Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany
33Win33–0 Lester YarbroughPTS826 Jun 1993 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
32Win32–0 Alex BlanchardTKO9 13 Sep 1991 Düsseldorf, GermanyRetained European light-heavyweight title
31Win31–0 Crawford Ashley1228 Feb 1991 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, GermanyWon vacant European light-heavyweight title
30Win30–0 Mike SedilloPTS87 Dec 1990 Berlin, Germany
29Win29–0 Rodrigo BenechKO3 7 Sep 1990 Sporthalle Charlottenburg, West Berlin, West Germany
28Win28–0 John KeysKO2, 2:151 Dec 1989 Hotel InterContinental, East Berlin, East Germany
27Win27–0 Thulani MalingaUD1227 Jan 1989 Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
26Win26–0 Chris ReidTKO11, 2:397 Oct 1988 Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
25Win25–0 Nicky WalkerUD153 Jun 1988 Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
24Win24–0 Vincent BoulwareTKO8, 2:1111 Mar 1988 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, West GermanyWon vacant IBF super-middleweight title
23Win23–0 Mustafa HamshoTKO1, 1:025 Dec 1987 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, West Germany
22Win22–0 John HeldPTS830 Oct 1987 Electoral Palace, Mainz, West Germany
21Win21–0 Lahcen M'HamdiTKO317 Oct 1987 Sporthalle, Gifhorn, West Germany
20Win20–0 Tommy TaylorPTS83 Oct 1987 Zoo Safaripark, Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, West Germany
19Win19–0 Ahmed LaghlaliTKO214 Sep 1987 Tennishalle, Bad Homburg, West Germany
18Win18–0 Manfred JassmannPTS123 Oct 1986 West Berlin, West GermanyWon German light-heavyweight title
17Win17–0 Ian LazarusKO8 12 May 1986 Tennishalle, Bad Homburg, West Germany
16Win16–0 James CookPTS81 Mar 1986 Cologne, West Germany
15Win15–0 Antoine Alcantara229 Nov 1985 Frankfurt, West Germany
14Win14–0 Rudiger BitterlingTKO38 Nov 1985 Düsseldorf, West GermanyWon vacant German middleweight title
13Win13–0 Moussa Kassongo MukandjoUD1031 Aug 1985 West Berlin, West Germany
12Win12–0 Steve JohnsonPTS626 Apr 1985 Festhalle, Frankfurt, West Germany
11Win11–0 Tony JenkinsTKO6 9 Mar 1985 Düsseldorf, West Germany
10Win10–0 Philippe SeysPTS81 Dec 1984 Düsseldorf, West Germany
9Win9–0 Tony BrittonPTS85 Oct 1984 Frankfurt, West Germany
8Win8–0 Butangi NzolamesoPTS615 Sep 1984 Dortmund, West Germany
7Win7–0 Franz DorferTKO227 Apr 1984 West Berlin, West Germany
6Win6–0 Mick Morris424 Feb 1984 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, West Germany
5Win5–0 Mauro Hernandez da CruzPTS610 Feb 1984 Sporthalle Süd, Frankfurt, West Germany
4Win4–0 Chaed RingoTKO214 Jan 1984 Düsseldorf, West Germany
3Win3–0 Jan Lefeber45 Nov 1983 Mannheim, West Germany
2Win2–0 Marnix HeytensTKO17 Oct 1983 Frankfurt, West Germany
1Win1–0 Esperno Postl2 10 Sep 1983 Cologne, West Germany