Roland La Starza (May 12, 1927 – September 30, 2009) was a multi-talented American figure renowned for his accomplishments both in the boxing ring and on the silver screen. He is best remembered for his two memorable bouts against the undefeated legend, Rocky Marciano. La Starza's life journey encompassed early success as an amateur boxer, an impressive professional career, and a later transition into acting.

Born in 1927, Roland La Starza hailed from the Van Nest neighborhood of New York City, specifically the Bronx. His inherent talent for boxing manifested at a young age, and he honed his skills, becoming a crafty defensive out-boxer. His prowess in the sport was evident during his amateur career, where he clinched five Golden Gloves titles in New York in 1944 and 1945.

La Starza embarked on his professional boxing journey on July 7, 1947. In an astonishingly short period, he managed to compile an unbeaten record of 37 consecutive victories. This remarkable feat set the stage for his clash with another rising star in the heavyweight division.

Roland La Starza and Rocky Marciano first crossed paths on March 24, 1950. In a fiercely contested bout, La Starza's performance was commendable. The judges' decision, a split one, favored Marciano, but many believed that La Starza came closer than anyone else to defeating the undefeated champion. The scoring was 5–4, 4–5, and 5–5, with Marciano securing the victory due to the fight's sole knockdown. La Starza, however, maintained that he had been robbed of victory, suggesting that the involvement of Marciano's manager, Al Weill, who also served as the matchmaker for the Garden, influenced the decision. He held onto this belief for more than half a century.

Over the subsequent three years, La Starza engaged in 18 more fights, including losses on points to Dan Bucceroni and Rocky Jones, but he avenged both of these defeats in 1952. His crowning moment arrived when he won a heavyweight title eliminator against Rex Layne in early 1953. This victory propelled him into the most pivotal fight of his career—a world heavyweight championship rematch against Rocky Marciano on September 24, 1953. This historic clash unfolded at the Polo Grounds in New York City. La Starza held his own against Marciano for the first six rounds but began to fatigue. In the eleventh round, Marciano knocked La Starza through the ropes, and although La Starza managed to beat the count, the fight was ultimately stopped.

Despite his tenacity, La Starza suffered injuries during the title fight against Marciano, necessitating surgery to repair damage to his arms. Although he continued his boxing career, he was never the same fighter. In March 1954, he faced a formidable British fighter, Don Cockell, and suffered a defeat. La Starza only participated in eight more fights before he decided to retire from professional boxing on May 8, 1961. Over his illustrious career spanning more than 14 years, he engaged in 66 professional fights, enduring 446 rounds, and emerged victorious in 57 of them, with 27 wins by knockout.

Following his retirement from boxing, La Starza ventured into acting. He secured notable roles, with his most significant break being the regular role of Pvt. Ernie Lucavich on the short-lived World War II series, "The Gallant Men." He also made guest appearances on various popular TV shows of the era, such as "77 Sunset Strip," "The Wild Wild West," and "Perry Mason." In addition to television, La Starza graced the silver screen, appearing in movies like "Point Blank" (1967) and "The Outfit" (1973).

In 1972, La Starza, along with his wife Jane and their two children, Amy and Mark, left California to retire on their family's cattle ranch located outside of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Roland La Starza's contributions to both the world of boxing and entertainment left an indelible mark. He passed away on September 30, 2009, in Port Orange, Florida, at the age of 82. His remarkable journey from a Bronx neighborhood to the bright lights of the boxing ring and Hollywood screen remains an enduring testament to his talent, resilience, and versatility.

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