Primo Carnera signed photo

	FROM THE BOOKS
	Rocky Marciano was only eight years old when Carnera won the title. Nineteen years later, after he himself was champion, he recalled how in the Italian section of Brockton, Massachusetts, they had big bonfires burning and they sang and shouted around them almost all night long in celebration of The Preem's victory over Sharkey. Rocky said he could still see those bonfires in the James Edgar playground right across the street from his house, and at the time he thought to himself: Gee, if he could win the title, he'd go back to Brockton and he'd throw a big party for the whole town and every kid would be invited and receive an expensive gift. Right after Carnera defeated Sharkey he went to Brockton to referee at the old arena that was across Centre Street from the Brockton Hospital. Marciano's uncle, John Piccento, took him that night to see Primo, and on the way out the newly crowned heavyweight champion walked right by Uncle Piccento and Rocky and Rocky reached out and touched his arm. When Rocky got home he told his father. "I saw Carnera and I touched him," Rocky said. "I really did." "How big is he?" his immigrant father, Perrino Marchegiano, asked. "Bigger than this ceiling," Rocky said. "And you should see how big his hands and feet are!"
	John D. McCallum-The World Heavyweight Boxing Championship