Rocky was Italian, which probably was the largest ethnic group inside the USA in the 1950's. As such, his popularity was rather high. In his time, the Russians and the nations they controlled were the evil umpire. I just cannot see him being nearly as popular if he had an Eastern European name. As such I bet the press would not like him, beating USA men, and he'd have to earn his respect as the champion, sort of the way Lennox Lewis eventually did with the North American Press.
There are a heap of conflicting stories out there regarding Marcianos time spent here in South Wales , from beating up gays to getting nutted clean out at the rear of the Grange Hotel by an Irish fella named Limerick the list goes on . One thing we do know is it sounds like he had a real enjoyable time during the war here in Cardiff .
Mike Stanton 's recent biography has a transcript of the courtmartial ,witnesses reports, and photo mug shots of Marciano.plus which stockades he served time in.Nothing conflicting about his research.You can take it to the bank!
I'm talking more locally here of incidents where Rocky was stationed mate , when I was growing up it seemed everyone's Grandfather had a fight with him , I know the location of the camp down on the River Taff just at the bottom of the Woods ( known locally as Yankee Woods ) where Rocky stayed infact I passed the place this morning , we also have a beautiful stretch of tree lined common land about a mile from where I grew up due to the American Airmen planting the trees as a thank you to the people of my area for the kindness shown to them .
Yes , the woods at Black Weir got the nickname of Yankee woods because apparently you couldn't walk into town via the woods without tripping over a yank and a young lady .
He would be living in the UK , working in a warehouse on minimum wage and living in a terraced house with 7 others sending his wages back home.