BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) – Some of the biggest names in boxing history were invited to the Boston suburb of Brockton over weekend for the official unveiling of a giant statue of boxing champion Rocky Marciano.

Organizer say boxing greats Thomas Hearns, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Mickey Ward and John Ruiz were among those who committed to attend the Sunday ceremony. Renowned promoter Don King and Jose Sulaiman, head of the World Boxing Council, also were on the invitation list.

The 24-foot tall statute, a gift to the City of Brockton from the World Boxing Council, was created by Mario Rendon, head of the Instituto Universitatio de las Bellas Artes in Colima, Mexico. It was erected Thursday, but a public dedication ceremony was scheduled for Sunday in Marciano’s hometown. The statue is outside the city’s football stadium that also bears Marciano’s name.

Guests flew in from around the world to attend a gala reception at the Massasoit Community College Conference Center to remember the man who put Brockton on the map. Among them were mayors from the Italian towns where Marciano’s parents were born, and the boxer’s relatives from Maryland and Florida.

Marciano was previously memorialized with a statue in Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, Italy.

The boxing legend, who was born ‘Rocco Francis Marchegiano,’ died in a 1969 plane crash in Iowa. He would have turned 89 on Sept. 1 and remains the only heavyweight to retire undefeated at 49-0.

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Auction Central News International contributed to this report.

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