By Joerg Lubrich
His name has a good reputation in Berlin sport. And especially in boxing, of course.
Because fistfighting determined a large part of his life. The boxing ring was his living room. We are talking about Ralf Rocchigiani, who celebrated his 60th birthday on February 13th.
Ralf, slim and slender as ever, took off his boxing gloves and swapped them for the steering wheel of a transporter. He has had a new job in Lauchhammer for several years now.
On February 13, Rocchigiani turned 60. He doesn’t have much to do with boxing anymore Photo: Winfried Mausolf
Ralle, as his friends call him, says in the BZ interview: “I’m employed by a roofing company in Lauchhammer in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district.” There the ex-world champion chauffeured the boss Andreas Golenia to the construction sites. “I’m there from Monday to Thursday,” says Rocky 2, brother of Graciano “Rocky” Rocchigiani, who died in 2018.
There was no big celebration for the 60th. “I went to dinner with the family,” said the celebrant. “Many friends and acquaintances called or wrote, including my former opponent Stefan Angehrn from Switzerland.”
Ralf Rocchigiani with his brother Graciano “Rocky” Rocchigiani, who died in a traffic accident in Sicily on October 1, 2018 Photo: picture alliance / Photowende
Out of 58 total as a pro (42 wins, 9 losses, 7 draws), what was the fight he still fondly remembers? Rocchigiani: “My first fight against Englishman Carl Thompson in 1995 in Manchester. At first I was on the ground and in the end I finally won with a technical knockout in the eleventh round and brought the world title to Berlin from abroad.”
Today Ralf Rocchigiani doesn’t have much to do with boxing anymore. “From time to time I looked online, nothing more. Boxing has declined quite a bit in Germany, the boxers are missing, the guys.” You can literally feel the disappointment in his words.
In March 1996, Ralf Rocchigiani defended his cruiserweight world title against the American Jan Snyder Photo: REUTERS / Reinhard Krause
Of course he would like to coach a young professional. “But it has to be worth it,” adds the ex-champion. Worth it, he means the sporting perspective. Because before a professional becomes a champion, years of investment must be made in the development work. And it costs millions.
Too bad actually. Because Ralf Rocchigiani was a type as a boxer and would certainly be a good trainer.