Cockell being a "gimme" fight for Marciano's injured nose

I believe he was #2 contender, and had beaten Lastarza, Kid Mathews, and Tommy Farr.

I admit that I don't quite get it. Valdez beat Charles to become #1, but I believe when Marciano fought Charles he was #1 and Cockell was #2. I guess Charles re-claimed the spot by beating Satterfield, but then it has been said here that Valdez was the #1 for a couple of years. Perhaps those who make the claim are going by Ring magazine ratings rather than the official NBA ratings?

 

There are rankings, and then there are "the most profitable and strategic rankings".

That is one reason Boxing has multiple ABC's (and NCAA College Football has the College Football Playoff that allows profitable, TV promoteable Teams to "dodge" dangerous teams from so-called "lessor" Conferences).

 

Valdes wasn't consistently #1 contender. He gained that rating late in 1953 - not, oddly enough, by beating Ezzard Charles, but by beating Heinz Neuhaus a couple of months later. He lost it again early in 1954, mainly because he looked so unimpressive winning a decision over Archie McBride. That allowed Charles to face Marciano as #1 contender while Valdes hung on to the #2 spot.

Later in 1954, after Charles had lost to Marciano and Valdes had good results for the rest of that year, Valdes regained the #1 spot and held it until his loss to Archie Moore in May 1955.

As for Cockell, his #2 spot is a masterclass in careful matchmaking. He entered the top 10 with a split decision over fringe contender Harry Matthews, then joined the front rank by beating Roland LaStarza. This was LaStarza's first fight since being badly beaten by Marciano, and although he turned out to be finished as a contender no one knew that at the time and he was still highly rated. Cockell then just sat on his rating, bagging a couple more wins against the sinking, unranked Matthews and not fighting at all for the 10 months before the title shot came along.

 

Very good. Thanks.

 

Yes people harp on about Nino Valdes deserving a shot on the strength of a win over Tommy Jackson that happened just after the first Marciano-Charles fight that the NBA said made nino their top challenger. but there was more demand for a charles rematch. That was when Nino really missed out not instead of Cokkell.

After the second Charles fight Marciano was not ready to fight again until summer of 1955. By then Nino, although he was one spot higher in the ratings, was regarded no different to Cokkell. Chairman of the New York State Athletic commission Robert Christonberry said "If you take the records of Cokkell and Valdes there is very little between them,".

This was because Between September 54 and Summer 55 Nino dropped off the radar with nondescript wins away from the fight centre of NewYork. A fight in Bermuda and another one in a 9000 capacity arena at Huntington West Virginia that drew just 1500 fans.

By comparison Don Cokkell was filling outdoor stadiums in Seattle and London against Kid Mathews right after the win over Roland Lastarza the previous #1 contender to challenge the champion.

 

Very informative.

 

A #2 ranked contender is not a gimme fight by any stretch of the English language.

It would be like criticizing Usky for defending his title against Gassiev.

 

THIS has always been the Case. every age, era and decade, in every division.

it's not a secret anymore and it was always known as it was going on too.

Ownership (Promoters & Managers), backing & investment, Popular Draws and National Interest and Pride.

the wonder really lies with just HOW MANY Title Holders did it favour, verse Spotless Truly Earned champions.

I'd say it's a 30% or more split between Helped or Carefully Placed along Champions over Proper Contended & Earned Winners!

 

I can give Rocky some slack for the Cokkel fight.