The fight got to the eighth round. They were in close contact against the ropes, and Rocky slipped in a tremendous left hook. Louis suddenly became almost paralyzed–his arms dropped and his chin was exposed. As quickly as bing-bang, Rocky hit him with a straight right hand that sent Louis out of the ring. He knocked him out. I think after the fight Rocky had second thoughts about that second punch. The left had pretty much knocked him out, and Rocky could have saved him some embarrassment by not knocking him through the ropes. The last thing Rocky wanted to do was embarrass Joe Louis. Afterwards, he said, “Imagine looking at Joe Louis lying there on the ropes. And I did it. And I don’t know if I’m happy about it.”
But there was one fighter Rocky did want to embarrass. Rocky and Roland LaStarza fought in Madison Square Garden in 1950. They were both Italian and undefeated. Rocky won that fight in a split decision. But a few years later, in 1953, there was a rematch, and LaStarza started popping off, saying, “I’m gonna box his ears and knock him out.” He was trying to draw attention to the fight, saying how Rocky wasn’t worth anything. And Rocky thought he meant it. Well, the fight went 11 rounds and Rocky was just punishing him. After, LaStarza said he kept hoping Rocky would just knock him out and end the pain. He went to the hospital for four or five days. But him and Rocky ended up being friends. Rocky always felt very strongly for people, but he knew he had to leave it behind when he got in the ring.
