R.I.P. Roland LaStarza

[holmcall]

LaStarza fought 66 professional bouts from July 7, 1947 to May 8, 1961. His career record was 57-9-0 (27). The most important fight of LaStarza's career was a world heavyweight championship bout, and a rematch, against Marciano on September 24, 1953. La Starza fought Marciano on even terms for the first six rounds but began to tire afterwards. Referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight in an eleventh round TKO as Marciano battered La Starza relentlessly. This was La Starza's first fight (out of 53) when he was stopped.

After his boxing career LaStarza 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 even showed up in a couple episodes of the campy Batman series of the 1960s, and appeared in a few movies such as Point Blank (1967) and The Outfit (1973).

[Bomp]

Rip

[BIG H]

R.I.P - I read that he was unlucky not to get the decision in the 1st Marciano fight

[holmcall]

R.I.P - I read that he was unlucky not to get the decision in the 1st Marciano fight

It was a close one. He could fight.

[The Fightfan]

Yes it was true from I've read also. He was robbed against Marciano in the first fight and should have won. The second fight I have in my VHS archives somewhere I remember looking at his expression when the ref stopped it "Are you serious". A very tough, game fighter R.I.P.