Marcianos 3 minute bomb run on the durable Don Cockell

Even if you don't think he was worthy of being ranked number two , he was worthy of a Top 10 rating at Heavyweight following his victory over a still-ranked LaStarza. That makes him a ranked contender. There are plenty of fringe contenders who bring their A game to title fights they don't necessarily deserve and still manage to hang longer (and often better than expected) against champions. DC was one of them.

Either way, the main point of my comment, apparently missed, was that Marciano's engine was damned impressive. Cockell did everything he could to stem the tide and wait out the storm. It never abated and actually got worse. I don't care who Marciano was facing...that's kind of impressive, imo.

 

So why did boxing news, the respected and oldest boxing weekly, fancy Don could win? All the papers includes Boxing News dosnt it? You dropped an egg here.

It’s ok dismissing Don after the event but before the event Don was more unbeaten at heavyweight than the other contenders were. He did not have the same defeats at heavyweight that the others had, he won fights in America and was a stadium fighter. Champion of Britain and winner over common opposition with the champion. That’s why he was rated number Two. The others out there were Charles, Moore, Valdes, Jackson, Satterfeild and Baker.

Rocky was coming off tough fights with Charles. In fact Cokkell was less of an underdog against Marciano as the similar rated Tony Galento had been against Joe Louis.

 

Cockell could probably justify being in the last 3 of the top ten. Marciano had a great engine ,not surprising given the fact he trained like a maniac for several month prior to a fight.
Lets not forget that against Moore,Walcott Louis and Charles[his biggest fights ]he was facing ringworn veterans all of whom apart from Charles were nearer 40 than 30.

 

This site is getting ridiculous - censoring a fighters name such as 'Cockell'.
The '****' in 'Cockell' is clearly not a profanity. Will 'cockles' or '****-a-doodle-doo' get censored as well? I may have to knock back a large Cockburns port to get over this insanity.

 

All of whom were still rated highly at heavyweight. Even if they weren't, if you put Marciano against a green screen and watch him, it's a pretty impressive sight to behold. Dude simply did not tire or even pause slightly during that salvo. Pretty impressive stuff for a guy who himself was in his 30's and approaching the end of his career.

 

This might be one of the most outrageous comments I have read here in 13 years

 

Show me the source please? BTW COULD IS NOT WOULD!

Cockell beat Nick Barone, a journeyman who had lost 3of his last 4 fights.
Freddie Beshore a mobbed up fringe contender who had lost 7 of his last 11 fights, false alarm Mathews, and ruined Lastarza. That's it! Egg ? You've had it all over your face since you started posting on this thread!

 

What you say about marciano is true, he is one of the best Ever p4p

The issue we have is chokelab pumping up marciano opponents to ridiculous levels of fantasy fiction

Read below what he wrote

“Don was as qualified as anybody ever was to challenge for the title”

 

He had a great engine as I said.But the reason he began to consistently land on Cockell late was because Don was winding down and no longer able to evade the punches.He had shipped an enormous amount of full blooded shots and was at the end of his tether.Don was singularly unfortunate in that Rocky could hit as hard and often in the later rounds as the early ones!

 

All true


The truth here is simple. Cockell was a short, slow, weak hitting doughboy who was one of the biggest underdogs in heavyweight championship history. He was chosen as an opponent because he would be a good draw, and easy test for Marcianos vulnerable nose. At 5’10 with a 70” reach with no punching ability, he possessed no chance of beating marciano or threatening to open the nose. The press gave don no chance. Marciano himself told Columbo “I can’t get up for this fight everyone knows I’m gonna murder this guy” (Marcianos Biography)....the ring number 1 contender was also the NBA most logical Nino Valdes. At 6’3 with an 80” reach and a big punch, he possessed physical tools that were threatening to opening up Marcianos nose had he been selected. There is no doubt this is one of the reasons why Valdes was bypassed for Don then given an obstacle placed in his direct path (title eliminator vs Moore) to a title shot...something to think about


Yes he was the number 2 rated heavyweight in the world (based on selective and careful match making) but anyone who knows anything about that era knows he wasn’t the 2nd best heavyweight in the world in 1955 and throughout heavyweight history, cockell might have been the weakest number 2 rated heavyweight in boxing history.

 

hey take that up with Robert Christenberry who was head of the NYSAC. You going to call him outrageous?

“Robert Christenberry, chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, and America's "Mr. Boxing," said on Sunday that world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano should fight either Britain's Don ****ell or Nino Valdes, of Cuba, for the title. Mr. Christenberry said that Marciano, who was "a great champion," should choose his next opponent."If you take the records of ****ell and Valdes there is very little between them," Mr. Christtenbery said.

If Cokkell was so far from being considered a legit contender why is his name thrown together with Valdes? Clearly only the benefit of hindsight can produce this impression that Cokkell was not valid or that he was hand picked. He clearly was not.

There really isn’t more I could add to this summary. Moore was clearly the bigger threat to Marciano than either Valdes or Cokkell. But it does not make either Cokkell or Valdes a bad or undeserving challenger. Either would have been as deserving as any other challenger to the title.


Since there was little between Valdes and Cokkell, the Cokkell fight was made in light of the fact Don sold more tickets in America than Valdes did. Then a match between Valdes and Moore was made to decide who would face Rocky. Moore won (the second time he beat Nino) and he got his shot at Rocky.

 

Pittsburgh COURIER July 24, 1954-

Hurricane Had Color, Nothing More . . Approximately a year ago, Nino Valdes, the Cuban heavyweight contender, was hailed in fistic circles as "the him as the "most likely to succeed." He then went on, to the delight of the prognosticators, to beat Ezzard Charles, proving to one and all that he was no flash In the pan; about as good a heavyweight as you will find these days. . Last week! Nino, who speaks much Spanish and very little English, established himself as the leading candidate for the most cherished award they give out in boxing. He did more for boxing in 1954 than any other boxer - when he knocked out Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson in 2 "minutes and 35 seconds of the second round. ' At the end of the year, Nino will receive our vote as the individnal who "did the most for boxing in 1954."

Hurricane Jackson had to be disposed of . . . and Valdes . was equal to the task. That does not mean, of course, that the Hurricane who was just a breeze for nino should have his citizenship papers confiscated; that he should be put on a barge and shipped out to sea. Jackson definitely added some color and drama to the sock scene before, he ran into trouble . Valdes, to be specific. Jackson never has been a fighter of - championship caliber, despite the fact that he disposed of Clarence Henry, Charley Norkus, Dan Bucceroni Rex Layne, But he did get the tub thumpers to beating their drums and excited - some people in a mild manner because he possessed the one thing so many fighters lack today that indefinable thing they call "color." He was an unorthodox campaigner." He reintroduced the "double" uppercut and baffled inept opponents by leading with his right, and, also, gave us a new version ot the old "Jersey Joe Walcott shuffle." Yes, indeed, he was colorful . . . but the scholars of the prize fighting business knew all along that he couldn't fight; that eventually he would run into a guy like Valdes and get flattened.

In a way, It is too bad that Jackson can't fight. If he had all the necessary qualities, Hurricane could definitely add some excitement to the drab heavyweight picture. Instinctively, he is a. ham at heart. Tommy loves to be in the limelight, thrives on publicity and public adulation. He should be a bona fide member of the Actors' Guild. ' - . He has a knack of coming up with delightful expenses after suffering defeat. Following his loss to Willie Troy, for example, he growled: ; "You can blame this defeat on my mother, not me. My mother is the cause of it. I wanted to go out with .girls. She wouldn't let me, made me stay at home. That upset me, caused me mental anguish. " How can a - guy fight if he can't go out with girls?" The answer to that, of course, Is . . . how can a guy fight if he does go out with girls, especially before a fight? . . . No one would be so blase as to reprimand the Hurricane for wanting to go out with girls. That is dandy recreation. But you don't do it before a big fight. Some how, girls have a way of distracting young men who should have their minds on future business. In this case, Hurricane's future business included a champion by the flame of Rocky Marciano. But that was Jackson's excuse for defeat girls. That was the most far - fetched explanation for inglorious defeat any athlete, or fighter, has ever given out In the entire history of the sports world. There were those, however, who were willing to accept it. They decided to give him a real chance. . He was matched with Nino, a big heavyweight who does not hold the feminine portion of the population in such exalted esteem. Valdes belted him out in less than two rounds. Jackson couldn't blame that on his mother or the girls. Before the fight they shipped him up in the New York mountains and made sure that he was trained thoroughly. He was in perfect physical condition when the bell rang. There was only one thing wrong with the Hurricane he just couldn't fight. Valdes Could Give Marciano Trouble ... That victory made Valdes only logical contender for heavyweight title. The International Boxing Club hopes to match him with the winner of the Marciano - Ezzard Charles return bout in September. All Nino has to do now is sit around and ignore the girls, wait for his big opportunity. He insists that he can beat Marciano. "I'll knock him out inside of four rounds," he said after disposing of Jackson. "Marciano can't take my punch." That, of course,, is the prediction of a fighter flushed with victory. After belting Jackson out, Nino was of the opinion he could beat anyone in the house, like the great John L. Sullivan. , But it won't be that easy.Marciano has Charles in the impending return bout which is considerably tougher and dangerous than the likes of Hurricane Jackson. But Valdes is the kind of fighter who could give Rocky trouble. He Is big, takes a good punch and can throw bombs well. He could be the man they have been looking for!

It isn't likely that Charles will beat Marciano in September, or any other month, for that matter. Ezzard lacks the heft and power. As a, boxer, he has the edge. But boxers are Marciano's meat. - Valdes, on the other hand, is a puncher. No one knows right now how good a puncher, but he is definitely a member of that school. He is tall and could keep the ever - charging Marciano off with his stiff left jab. Meantime, Hurricane Jackson should take stock, decide' that perhaps his mother isn't to blame, after al

 

I'd say he was the least worthy of the challengers Marciano faced, yeah. Doesn't necessarily disqualify him as a contender in his own right. He was Commonwealth heavyweight champ and had defeated the still- Top 5 ranked LaStarza to solidify his rating. Valdes would have been a better choice, of course. But Cockell probably warranted a place close to the Top 5, and that makes him a reasonable tune up while waiting for Valdes and Moore to sort things out.

 

The second best heavyweight in the world at that time proved to be Archie Moore. He beat Baker and Valdes.

Cokkell being legitimately rated at #2 made him officially the third best heavyweight in the world, not the second. The champ is supposed to be the best. The number one contender is theoretically the second best in the world.

I’m not sure why you think anybody would think Cokkell was the second best in the world in 1955?

However, The second best in the world, Archie Moore, did not fare much better than Cokkell when he did fight Rocky did he?

That would be a hindsight call wouldn’t it?

 

Nino Valdes was the clear #1 contender as of October 1954. Jim Norris, head of the IBC, met with Al Weill in October because he wanted Marciano and Valdes to fight in February 1955.

Norris also wanted Moore and Olson to fight - and Moore said he would if the winner could fight Marciano.

Don ****ell was the #2 contender.

While he waited for the Marciano fight, Valdes fought twice - in December 1954 and January 1955 - scoring two knockouts.

Yet, for some reason, Valdes is told he has to fight Moore and Marciano signs to fight the 10-1 lower-rated ****ell instead.


The fact is Nino Valdes was the number-one contender. He had a ONE FOOT reach advantage over Marciano. (If Marciano beat guys with a greater reach advantage than that, please let me know.) And Valdes could bang.

The head of the IBC wanted to make Marciano-Valdes and he wanted it in February 1955. Valdes was knocking guys out in tuneups preparing for Marciano. And Marciano's manager (also an IBC matchmaker) said they'd consider it, but instead he gave the shot to a guy more Marciano's size and rated below Valdes (****ell).



“Little difference between Valdes and Cockell Record”

Well Valdes defeated number 1 rated Ezzard Charles, knocked out number 4 rated Hurricane Jackson, and knocked out European heavyweight champion Heinz Neuhaus. If you can find anything on Cockells’ resume that comes close to that, let me know. I’ll let the well educated fans on this site decide for themselves who had the better record going into 1955.

“June 1955 ratings”

Irrelevant. What matters is the rankings as of the day the cockell-marciano fight was signed.

They were as follows

RING

Valdes number 1

NBA

Valdes number 1 : dubbed most logical mandatory

“Don sold more tickets in America”

This is your new go to.

1. Valdes would have sold handsomely in Miami where there was a huge Latino population and that’s where Jim Norris, head of the IBC wanted to stage the fight between Valdes and Marciano. Weill Balked. Where is your evidence Valdes would draw less in Miami than cockell in San Fran?

2. What the fans want may be of some importance but I don't see it as especially relevant if a challenger is massively lacking in credentials, which cockell was.

“Edward Morbius”

Why do you keep referencing him? What are you his stooge? Edward and I made a top 50 list together. We have a good relationship and embark on healthy debates from time to time


“Match between Valdes and Moore was made”


Does that seem fair to you or even logical that a number one "most logical contender" doesn't get a direct title shot at Marciano but has to fight an eliminator first?

What eliminator did number 2 don win to get his title shot?

Marciano bypassed his number 1 mandatory Valdes, to fight the number 2 ****ell. This is a fact.





I’ve said my piece. I’m not going to regurgitate the same spew over and over again when a poster here has an agenda