Are you really going to argue that Don wasn’t knocked senseless? Is that a thing you can do? I’d like to see that argument.
The fight should have been stopped sooner but he looked gone after the knockdown at the end of round 8. All of round 9 he looked lost and it should have been called sooner
He was in bad shape but it seemed like he still had his senses. He was trying to fight back until the maybe the last couple of seconds. And then he regained his composure immediately after the stoppage, walked unassisted to his corner, congratulated Marciano, and talked to his guys.
He wasn't senseless that's just BS ,arising after the last kd he looked to his corner. The fight should have been stopped sooner, Cockell had extracted a promise from his manager John Simpson that he was under no circumstances to stop it. The referee was a disgrace, Marciano was allowed to butt, hit low ,after the bell and whilst Cockell was on the floor. 1st rd kidney punch. 3rd after the bell punch. 4th rd butt. 5th rd low punch. 6thrd low punch,3 punches after the bell. 7th rd.butt and low punch. Marciano was never warned for any foul whilst Cockell was warned for retaliating. Obviously the tiny16 ft ring aided Rocky ,but if it had been 25ft and Marciano had not fouled him Cockell was still never going to win,he was a poor challenger and the fight was only redeemed by his show of courage. Presenting Marciano in the absolute best light is really important to you isnt it ? Almost a religion, excuses for why he couldnt get Cockell ,[who had already been stopped 5 times ],earlier ,"well he was past his best his back was bad,"etc. Cockell was a moderate heavyweight in a poor era and an average Lhvy I don't think he was ever ranked higher than no 10 at175lbs. Nobody picked him to go the distance with Rocky not even in his own country if the fight had been in the UK [some chance!] Marciano would have been slung out for fouling and boxing would have had the travesty of Cockell as Champion !lol Marciano was quite entitled to take a gimmee defence, Cockell was ranked [on the basis of beating 2 past Marciano victims,]and Rocky had had his nose split to the bone against Charles in their previous fight in which bout he had looked terrific,so drop the he was past prime nonsense. Cockell raised his game,Marciano was undermotivated but still easily bludgeoned his overmatched challenger to stop him on his feet. Challenger=Good Night Champion =Underperforms Result= Foregone mismatch Praise for Cockell for taking his lumps. Praise for Marciano for getting the job done albeit a bit tardily. Lets have no more BS about Marciano not regularly landing flush with his best punches. " My best punches didn't seem to affect him." Rocky Post fight reports.You might like these New York World Telegram Joe Williams. "Marciano violated practically every rule in the book.He hit after the bell,he used his elbows,and head at close quarters,several times punched below the belt ,and once hit Cockell when he was down." If Cockell should get the idea that anything goes in the American ring short of wielding a knife,or pulling a gun,you couldn't blame him." New York Herald Tribune Jesse Abramson. "Cockell had courage far beyond the call of duty.How he stood up so long under that stunning,shattering bombardment was a mystery." The New York Post Jimmy Cannon. "Cockell is a game boy,I have never thought Marciano a great fighter,I'm positive now,But Cockell honored his calling" The New York Times Joe Nicholls. "Those present witnessed one of the most inspiring exhibitions of gameness in the history of the Heavyweight Championship." Two men had a fight ,the better man one ,and the issue was never in doubt. And Still Champion Rocky Marciano ! ps This does not in any way attack Marciano it's just presenting facts. On Rocky's power, he probably hit as hard as any185lbs man ever has ,and quite possibly the hardest, can't you be content with that?
I’m content with that lol. Don’t believe I stated otherwise. The problem with this fight (Marcianos worst on film) is people try to claim this is the best version of Marciano. Which is absurd. I don’t care if you call Marciano a dirty fighter he was! Man had plenty of faults. But he had plenty of great qualities that seem to be ignored by many. And for some odd reason people like to take the man down several notches when I don’t think that’s necessary. No other fighter gets opponents statements so overblown. Or every little negative thing ever written by some clown posted and highlighted as if it’s supposed to take down his career. With phony allegations of corruption. To nonsensical allegations of his power. These things don’t ring true when the mans career is viewed in a whole. Only knock on Marciano to me was his competition wasn’t the best. He faced three great fighters and the rest were mediocre or past it (although prime Layne has to be viewed as better then mediocre). And maybe one good win against a 6”3 opponent would have shut some size queens up.
The moment you realize Marciano was fighting to do what no Heavyweight had ever done before or ever will again, and have his hand raised against every opponent he ever fought as a professional at the highest level, and not appeal to style critics on a message forum some 60 years later.
Walcott's cornermen said he froze on the day of the fight and refused to talk in the dressing room when they tried to go over tactics.He was hit with a decent punch but I believe he elected to stay down,he was unconcerned when he arose and only began pantomiming outrage when he heard the crescendo of boos begin. Ray Robinson said,"he not only let his people down,he sat on them." AJ Leibling had no doubts that he quit cold. Patterson was genuinely ko'd
