Rocky Kansas was an Italian-born American tough, short (5'2" tall) former Undisputed World Lightweight Champion boxer. He was born Rocco Tozzo on April 21, 1893, in Italy and came to America in 1898. Rocky Kansas was the brother of champion Joe "Kid" Kansas whom he combined with at an attempt to become a champion in 1938.

Background Rocky was the younger brother of Joe "Kid" Kansas (Tozzo), and older brother of boxer Tony Tozzo. Kansas and his two brothers combined to defeat 189 opponents in the Buffalo, New York area from 1909 to 1937. Father to Kenneth and Vincent Tozzo and husband to Jessie (Nye)Tozzo.

Pro career

Kansas turned pro in 1911 and lost just two official decisions in his first 75 fights. In 1914, he faced his first contender, Johnny Dundee, losing a newspaper decision. Kansas also faced featherweight Champion Johnny Kilbane in a non-title match, but lost the newspaper decision.

During his career Kansas faced the cream of the featherweight and lightweight divisions. On February 28, 1916, Kansas fought the all-time great Benny Leonard. Although, Kansas managed to last the full 10 rounds for a No-Decision, he received a boxing lesson from Leonard.

In 1921 he met Richie Mitchell, a highly regarded Lightweight out of Milwaukee. In the first round Kansas pinned Mitchell against the ropes and knocked him out. Kansas then landed a non-title shot against Benny Leonard, but was again handily out boxed.

Kansas then came up with another upset victory, this time over southpaw Lew Tendler in a close 10-round decision. The victory landed him a title shot at Leonard's lightweight crown. In an exciting fight, Leonard was awarded the unanimous decision.

The two fought yet again. This time Leonard TKOed him in the eleventh round.

Leonard retired and Kansas was given his third title shot at Broadway Auditorium against Jimmy Goodrich, who claimed the title after Leonard's retirement. Kansas was able to get inside on Goodrich and won all but one of the first 13 rounds. Kansas was awarded the 15-round decision, and after over 14 years of professional fighting, Rocky Kansas was finally a champion.

His glory was short lived. On July 3, 1926, he defended against 22-year-old Sammy Mandell. Mandell outboxed Kansas to win the title.

Retirement and death Kansas retired after the loss. Like many others, he was wiped out in the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Kansas worked for the city of Buffalo in New York State. He had a job there for a few years. Then, in 1952, news got out about a cancer that he had developed. Kansas died on January 10, 1954, of cancer, following abdominal surgery. He was 60 years old.

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes166Loss64–11–6 Joe TrippeUD6Sep 30, 1932 165Loss64–10–6 Sammy MandellPTS10Jul 3, 1926 164Loss64–9–6 Pal MoranNWS10Apr 12, 1926 163Win64–9–6 Joe TiplitzNWS10Mar 25, 1926 162Win64–9–6 Freddie JacksTKO6 (10)Mar 5, 1926 161Win63–9–6 Jimmy GoodrichUD15Dec 7, 1925 160Win62–9–6 Fred KellyTKO1 (10)Nov 2, 1925 159Win61–9–6 Joe JawsonKO2 (10)Sep 28, 1925 158Win60–9–6 Joe JawsonUD6May 11, 1925 157Loss59–9–6 Sid TerrisDQ5 (10)Apr 27, 1925 156Win59–8–6 Red Cap WilsonPTS6Feb 16, 1925 155Win58–8–6 Jack BernsteinUD10Nov 26, 1924 154Win57–8–6 Luis VicentiniPTS10Oct 13, 1924 153Loss56–8–6 Luis VicentiniKO11 (15)Jul 14, 1924 152Win56–7–6 Freddie JacksUD6May 20, 1924 151Win55–7–6 Johnny DundeeUD10Apr 21, 1924 150Draw54–7–6 Jack BernsteinPTS10Feb 18, 1924 149Win54–7–5 Teddy MeyersPTS10Jan 1, 1924 148Win53–7–5 Freddie JacksPTS6Dec 10, 1923 147Loss52–7–5 Jack BernsteinUD15Oct 12, 1923 146Win52–6–5 Johnny MendelsohnNWS10Jul 11, 1923 145Win52–6–5 Alex HartNWS8Apr 30, 1923 144Win52–6–5 Charley WhitePTS15Feb 9, 1923 143Win51–6–5 Chubby BrownPTS12Jan 26, 1923 142Win50–6–5 Sammy BernePTS10Jan 1, 1923 141Win49–6–5 Johnny DonnellyNWS10Dec 15, 1922 140Win49–6–5 Pete HartleyPTS10Nov 30, 1922 139Loss48–6–5 Benny LeonardTKO8 (10)Jul 4, 1922 138Win48–5–5 Johnny HarveyTKO4 (10)May 12, 1922 137Win47–5–5 Gene DelmontUD10Mar 10, 1922 136Loss46–5–5 Benny LeonardUD15Feb 10, 1922 135Win46–4–5 Johnny RayNWS10Dec 26, 1921 134Draw46–4–5 Sid BarbarianPTS10Dec 17, 1921 133Win46–4–4 Barney AdairPTS10Dec 9, 1921 132Win45–4–4 Johnny MendelsohnNWS10Nov 22, 1921 131Win45–4–4 Packy HommeyTKO2 (12)Nov 16, 1921 130Win44–4–4 Lew TendlerPTS15Oct 21, 1921 129Win43–4–4 Frankie BrittPTS10Oct 3, 1921 128Win42–4–4 Mixer MitchellKO8 (15)Sep 12, 1921 127Win41–4–4 Frankie SchoellUD12Jun 27, 1921 126Loss40–4–4 Benny LeonardNWS12Jun 6, 1921 125Win40–4–4 Gene DelmontPTS12May 30, 1921 124Win39–4–4 Harlem Eddie KellyKO2 (12)May 6, 1921 123Loss38–4–4 Johnny DundeeNWS10Apr 26, 1921 122Win38–4–4 Bobby WardKO5 (10)Apr 4, 1921 121Win37–4–4 Willie JacksonPTS12Mar 21, 1921 120Win36–4–4 Richie MitchellNWS10Mar 9, 1921 119Win36–4–4 Richie MitchellKO1 (12)Feb 18, 1921 118Win35–4–4 Lockport Jimmy DuffyKO1 (12)Jan 21, 1921 117Win34–4–4 Larry HansenTKO10 (12)Nov 20, 1920 116Win33–4–4 George ChaneyPTS12Aug 23, 1920 115Win32–4–4 Pinky MitchellNWS10Jun 30, 1920 114Win32–4–4 Allentown DundeeNWS10Jun 14, 1920 113Win32–4–4 Matt BrockNWS10Jun 9, 1920 112Win32–4–4 Joe WellingNWS10May 24, 1920 111Win32–4–4 Frankie BullKO6 (10)Apr 28, 1920 110Win31–4–4 Ralph BradyPTS12Apr 23, 1920 109Win30–4–4 Babe PicatoNWS10Apr 16, 1920 108Loss30–4–4 Babe PicatoNWS10Mar 19, 1920 107Win30–4–4 Westside Jimmy DuffyNWS10Mar 17, 1920 106Draw30–4–4 Pete HartleyPTS12 (10)Dec 26, 1919 105Draw30–4–3 Benny ValgerNWS10Dec 9, 1919 104Win30–4–3 Frankie BrittNWS10Dec 1, 1919 103Win30–4–3 Ralph BradyNWS10Nov 18, 1919 102Win30–4–3 Joe TiplitzNWS6Nov 15, 1919 101Win30–4–3 Eddie DorseyTKO9 (10)Nov 6, 1919 100Win29–4–3 K.O. MarsNWS10Nov 3, 1919 99Win29–4–3 Artie O'LearyNWS6Sep 22, 1919 98Loss29–4–3 Lew TendlerNWS10Jan 1, 1919 97Loss29–4–3 Frankie BrittPTS12Dec 17, 1918 96Draw29–3–3 Benny ValgerNWS6Nov 9, 1918 95Draw29–3–3 Frankie BrittPTS12Nov 5, 1918 94Draw29–3–2 Johnny DundeePTS12Sep 10, 1918 93Win29–3–1 Joe ThomasNWS4Aug 23, 1918 92Win29–3–1 Phil BloomNWS8Jul 24, 1918 91Draw29–3–1 Patsy ClineNWS12Jul 8, 1918 90Win29–3–1 Jake SchifferNWS10Jun 24, 1918 89Win29–3–1 Eddie 'Kid' BlackKO2 (4)Jun 6, 1918 88Win28–3–1 Fighting ZunnerNWS10May 27, 1918 87Win28–3–1 Lockport Jimmy DuffyNWS10May 3, 1918 86Win28–3–1 Artie O'LearyTKO5 (6)Apr 27, 1918 85Loss27–3–1 Patsy ClineNWS10Apr 10, 1918 84Win27–3–1 Young Terry McGovernNWS6Apr 2, 1918 83Win27–3–1 Willie JacksonNWS10Mar 11, 1918 82Draw27–3–1 Willie JacksonNWS10Feb 18, 1918 81Win27–3–1 Clonie TaitNWS10Jan 18, 1918 80Loss27–3–1 Lew TendlerNWS6Oct 29, 1917 79Draw27–3–1 Frankie CallahanNWS10Oct 18, 1917 78Loss27–3–1 Willie JacksonNWS6Oct 8, 1917 77Win27–3–1 George ChaneyNWS6Sep 10, 1917 76Win27–3–1 George ChaneyNWS10Jul 23, 1917 75Loss27–3–1 Babe PicatoNWS10Jun 11, 1917 74Loss27–3–1 Johnny DundeePTS12May 29, 1917 73Win27–2–1 Freddie WelshNWS10Apr 20, 1917 72Win27–2–1 Red DolanNWS10Apr 12, 1917 71Win27–2–1 Phil VirgetsNWS10Mar 28, 1917 70Win27–2–1 Johnny KilbaneNWS10Feb 26, 1917 69Win27–2–1 Cal DelaneyNWS10Feb 8, 1917 68Win27–2–1 Pete HartleyNWS10Jan 29, 1917 67Win27–2–1 Jake SchifferNWS10Jan 9, 1917 66Win27–2–1 Henry CherryTKO8 (10)Nov 30, 1916 65Win26–2–1 Gene BelmontPTS10Nov 22, 1916 64Win25–2–1 Johnny O'LearyNWS10Nov 10, 1916 63Win25–2–1 Harry CondonNWS10Nov 6, 1916 62Win25–2–1 Shamus O'BrienNWS10Sep 11, 1916 61Win25–2–1 Gene DelmontNWS10Sep 1, 1916 60Win25–2–1 Pete HartleyNWS10Jul 7, 1916 59Win25–2–1 Jack WhiteTKO2 (?)Jun 30, 1916 58Loss24–2–1 Jake SchifferNWS10May 29, 1916 57Win24–2–1 Frankie NelsonNWS10Apr 3, 1916 56Win24–2–1 Tickle SandersNWS10Mar 16, 1916 55Loss24–2–1 Benny LeonardNWS10Feb 28, 1916 54Win24–2–1 Patsy DrouillardPTS10Feb 23, 1916 53Win23–2–1 Frankie CallahanNWS10Feb 4, 1916 52Loss23–2–1 Frankie RussellPTS15Nov 15, 1915 51Win23–1–1 Frankie RussellPTS15Oct 25, 1915 50Draw22–1–1 Joe MandotNWS10Oct 6, 1915 49Draw22–1–1 Joe MandotNWS10Sep 6, 1915 48Win22–1–1 Ad WolgastNWS10Jul 23, 1915 47Win22–1–1 Frankie DaleyNWS10Jun 8, 1915 46Loss22–1–1 Johnny DundeeNWS10May 3, 1915 45Loss22–1–1 Joe GoldbergNWS10Apr 12, 1915 44Win22–1–1 Eddie MorganNWS10Mar 24, 1915 43Win22–1–1 Eddie MorganNWS10Feb 22, 1915 42Loss22–1–1 Johnny KilbaneNWS10Feb 1, 1915 41Win22–1–1 Harry BoyleNWS10Jan 11, 1915 40Win22–1–1 Kid JulianNWS10Jun 8, 1914 39Win22–1–1 Bobby ReynoldsNWS12May 25, 1914 38Win22–1–1 Harry CondonNWS10May 11, 1914 37Win22–1–1 Tommy BresnahanKO2 (10)Feb 24, 1914 36Win21–1–1 Johnny DundeeNWS10Feb 24, 1914 35Win21–1–1 Joe GoldbergNWS10Feb 6, 1914 34Win21–1–1 Jimmy CavanaughKO3 (10)Feb 3, 1914 33Win20–1–1 Eddie WallaceNWS10Dec 26, 1913 32Win20–1–1 Eddie SentryTKO5 (6)Dec 22, 1913 31Win19–1–1 Johnny SokolTKO9 (10)Nov 28, 1913 30Win18–1–1 Jack DexterTKO5 (10)Nov 14, 1913 29Win17–1–1 Young JoeyNWS10Oct 27, 1913 28Win17–1–1 Harry BoyleKO2 (6)Oct 17, 1913 27Win16–1–1 Johnny HarrisNWS6Sep 29, 1913 26Win16–1–1 Jack DexterTKO4 (10)Jul 3, 1913 25Draw15–1–1 Oscar WilliamsPTS10Jun 20, 1913 24Loss15–1 Jack DexterNWS6May 2, 1913 23Win15–1 Danny McCabeNWS6Apr 28, 1913 22Win15–1 Oscar WilliamsTKO10 (10)Mar 25, 1913 21Loss14–1 Stanley ScullyNWS6Jan 1, 1913 20Win14–1 Sammy BakerNWS6Dec 5, 1912 19Draw14–1 Joe ClarkNWS6Nov 21, 1912 18Win14–1 Jack DexterNWS6Nov 11, 1912 17Win14–1 Joe SteinTKO8 (10)Sep 24, 1912 16Draw13–1 Jack DexterNWS6Sep 13, 1912 15Win13–1 Dick ClancyKO3 (?)Sep 2, 1912 14Win12–1 Jack JoyntKO1 (?)Aug 30, 1912 13Win11–1 Jack WhiteKO3 (?)Mar 1, 1912 12Win10–1 Jack WhiteKO3 (?)Feb 17, 1912 11Win9–1 Jack HarrisKO1 (?)Feb 1, 1912 10Win8–1 Young NelsonKO2 (?)Jan 1, 1912 9Loss7–1 Jack DexterTKO3 (?)Nov 24, 1911 8Win7–0 George RossPTS6Oct 28, 1911 7Win6–0 Young TuttleKO1 (?)Jul 14, 1911 6Win5–0 Willie O'NeillKO1 (4)Jun 23, 1911 5Win4–0 Battling KlineKO2 (?)Jun 1, 1911 4Win3–0 Young GreenKO2 (?)Mar 1, 1911 32–0 Kid GeorgeND4Feb 25, 1911 2Win2–0 Young ThomasKO2 (?)Feb 1, 1911 1Win1–0 Young ThomasKO3 (?)Jan 1, 1911

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.