First-hand account of Marciano's diet and workout regimen (1952)

tl;dr: He ran 3-5 miles per day and ate plenty of food. His big workout apparently lasted around 90 minutes (from 3-4:30).


from Harold Kaese, “In a Game That’s Noted for Its Punks, Phoneys, Rocky Stands for Class, Boston Globe (Sept. 20, 1952), p.7


“[…] Marciano is satisfied if he has a few close friends and a pantry near him.

He is eating all the way, although Al Colombo, a pal, thinks Rocky’s knife-and-fork exercises have been exaggerated.

“He’s over-rated,” said Colombo, adding alertly, I mean as an eater, not a fighter.”

Colombo’s revelation that Marciano does not eat eight lamb chops for breakfast but only two or three was sworn to by Alfred Renault, the camp’s chef. […]

Marciano, who only skipped rope today, said he was not nervous, “only a little tense like I always am before a fight.” This he admitted, was his big opportunity and concluded, “I don’t intend to lose it.”

Each day for a month, Marciano has got up at 7 a.m. He then has a cup of tea (sugar and lemon) and usually runs between three and five miles.

At 8:30, it is a breakfast of fruit, cereal, two soft-boiled eggs, lamb chops, toast, and more tea.

He walks and naps until noon, when he has some tea.

Then he naps until his big workout at 3 p.m. After 4:30 he naps until dinner time at 5:30; after which he walks, plays ping pong, reads, or listens to the radio. At 8:30 he may have an apple or pear, and goes to bed.

According to Reinault, the meat is usually steak or roast beef—rare. Lamb, veal, and a little chicken for variety. Baked potatoes, green vegetables, and plenty of salads with oil and vinegar dressing. Oh yes—tea.

No Italian foods. No pork. No pastry. No ice cream.

Reinault, who came to this country from Germany in 1923, also cooked here for Joey Maxim before the Robinson fight. The difference he said, was “Maxim had to lose weight, so he ate less and ran more than this fellow.”

Marciano has not been training for a race. He wants to win only one letter against Walcott—in boxing, not track.”

 

I have no idea. I don't think AJ trains to put on mass though.

 

Fake media, right?!


Saul Pett, “Rocky Marciano Spends Two Months Getting in Shape for Championship Fight," Messenger-Inquirer, Sept. 13, 1955, p.14


“…Goldman explained the training camp routine.

Rocky had awakened at 6:30 that morning; taken his road work for five or six miles; rested for half an hour; breakfasted on a concoction of cornflakes mixed with two raw eggs, blueberries and vitamin pills followed by two lamb chops and hot tea; taken a walk, then back to bed, skipping lunch, resting until workout time at 3:30.

In the evening, he would dine in a bare, antiseptic kitchen, on soup, green salad and a couple of steaks, but nothing resembling the rich spaghetti and lasagna he loves.

…]

“It was not 3:30 and the screen door swung open. Marciano came out quietly, wearing training pants over his boxing tights and a white hood over his head.

In the gum, Rocky stropped down, revealing short, clublike arms and legs as strong as oak stumps.

And then for more than an hour, he pounded the heavy, 150-pound bag, worked rhythmically on the light bag, shadow-boxed along in a ring whose apron was draped in royal purple.”

[…]

“Back in his sleeping porch Rocky exercised on a tilted board laid on the floor. His head resting on the lower end, he raised his torso without using his hands or raising his legs. This continued for more than 20 minutes.”

 

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