Former World Champion Graciano ‘Rocky’ Rocchigiani has died in a car accident, it has been reported.

The 54-year-old German, who held world titles at super-middleweight and light heavyweight, was killed in Italy after he was hit by an overtaking car.

Rocchigiani after starting his professional career in 1983, became IBF World Champion in 1988 and ten years later took the WBC light heavyweight title.

German boxing promoter Kalle Sauerland told Bild he was ‘speechless’.

‘He was our first World Champion. I grew up with him, so to speak. He was a wild guy with a big heart,’ he said.