Why do you think it took so long for Rocky to put Cockell away? At first I thought it may have been because Rocky was "getting old" in the ring, but based on the fact that he beat the brakes off of Archie Moore in his next fight, it shows that Rocky was still in his prime. Did Cockell just happen to miraculously have a good chin on this one night in history, or was it just a bad performance by the Rock?
Hell, No......... Donny "The ****" Cockell had some rugged toughness built up inside of him............. "The ****" was not the most skilled guy in the 1950s, but he was durable........ Rocky Marciano was in control all the way through......... Cockell was limited in skill, but tuff as nails.......... He was NOT a skilled fighter when he was over his PRIME fighting weight in '55, but he was no rookie........... He knew how to handle himself............. But, in the end, the champ ( Marciano) got the job done.............. I got this fight on tape.......... It was fought up in Frisko, CA... MR.BILL
Hmmmm.... Cockell to Marciano was like Quarry to Frazier........... Tuff dudes who were in over their head with a superior fighter...... thumbsup:bbb:rasta MR.BILL
Bit of both. Cockell was carrying the expectations of an entire nation and was a tough cookie anyway. Marciano gave a C+ grade performance. Every ATG has had a similar night.
I think you could say that Cockell had a better chin than Charles, Walcott or Moore. I think Marciano beat slightly past or past their prime venisons of Charles and Walcott. The Moore win had some legs for Marciano because Moore proved he was not washed up by rebounding after the loss to score some decent wins. Charles and Wlacott were very poor after losing once to Rocky. Rocky was having another filmed off night ( the other was vs Pastor ), and Marciano looked very sloppy vs Moore. Rocky hit Cockel with solid shots, including low blows. So why did Cockell last this long? I think it was a case of Marciano starting to slip a little, and Cockell being a bit more durable than the more well known fighters Rocky KO'd. Sometimes when I watch Marciano I think to myself he would be in trouble vs more skilled bigger fighters. Other times I think he would find a way. Intersting guy. Marciano certainly had all the stamina, and heart a fighter would need.
Glad some one mentioned the low blows,one while he was down and a couple after the bell plus the headwork.If one was unkind you would say that the fact Cockell was 26 and not 40 years old made a difference,he was never going to win but gave it his best shot. Cockell extracted a promise from his manager Johnny Simpson,"that whatever happens in there dont you F*****G well stop it".Cockell knew what he was in for but took his lumps and honoured his calling.
No he didn't. I met him years after, he was a paint rep for a company my ex wife worked for, very modest man ,he said he was never any good after the Marciano fight.
no,there was only really archie moore that did. didn't cockell have trouble with his voice,laterly ??
Yes he died of cancer ,of the oesophagus or larynx I beleive. A benefit night was held for him, Reg Gutteridge and Cooper etc were there,very sad ,poor old Don couldnt speak ,but he smiled his thanks to everyone.