What is your opinion of the Cockell-Marciano fight?

But Don Cockell would be a gimme in any respectable era.

 

It was a test for the healing of Rocky's nose post Charles 2, Rocky was clearly not at his best and looked sloppy against a cagey, slippery, blubbery opponent ... it took a lot of shots to wear Cockell out and clearly not Rocky's best moment but to be comeletely honest, the 5' 10" , 185 pound Rocky defended his crown against a former light heavyweight in Charles, a former light heavyweight in Moore, a former middleweight in Cockell, a average cruiser in LaStarza and a 37 year old cruiser in Walcott .. the old ranked heavyweight of any skill by todays standard was the 37 year old Louis .... it is what it is ,,,

 

A fighter can only fight what is in front of him, and it is a hell of a lot more than what Holmes did.

 

It was a ridiculously weak era. Cockell wouldn't have sniffed the top 50 heavies during Holmes' reign. Furthermore, the fact that Marciano had to foul Cockell into submission reveals a lot.

 

And Holmes' was better for him NOT fighting the best of his era?

Rubbish. Any time the champ pursues good fights, it's a decent era.

 

Levels.

Were a Don Cockell able and talented fighter the best Holmes could face in his era, I would judge him harshly, too. But he had to choose between murderers like Cooney and Shavers and Norton and Witherspoon and Weaver and Bonecrusher and on and on...

Levels, son. Levels.

 

Cooney and Shavers were not very good themselves. And you are comparing Holmes few best to one of Maricano's second string. Cooney, Norton and Witherspoon do not mean to history what Charles, Walcott, and Moore did.

 

Neither Cooney nor Shavers would consider Cockell for a sparring partner. I doubt even an infirmed Walcott would qualify. Too much liability hurting an old man.

 

But again, you are comparing one of Holmes' best (who isn't very good) to one that was not one of Marciano's. Ledoux, Zannon...these guys are qualitatively better?

C'mon.

 

The Rock made a few bucks, ate some fish and chips, and banged an British woman or three.

 

“Unbeaten,” by Mike Stanton is worth reading. A very detailed book on Marciano. I read it about 4 years ago. It covers his career, including delving into the Ted Lowry and LaStarza fights as well as his connections with the Mob.
A real eye opener!

 

A lot of people don't realize that Rocky Marciano was just a bad guy who did bad things to people.

 

My opinion of Rocky Marciano vs. Don Cockell is Rocky had a bad day, was not at his best, but still won by KO. That is better than what many great Heavyweights have done on bad days.

 

Cockell was a poor number 2 contender. That’s not Marciano’s fault though and fighting a Brit has always been a good sell.

 

Marciano showed a film of the fight on his "Main Event" television show. In his narration, he said that he went into it knowing that everyone expected him to beat Cockell easily, so he abandoned his usual methodical style to try for a quick knock out. Cockell was too tough and clever to let that happen, however, and he made Marciano look bad in the process. By the seventh round, Marciano said he realized that he had to go back to the basics, working the body and throwing combinations. Even so, Cockell absorbed massive punishment before the fight was stopped. "What a man this is," Marciano said at the end. "So, I didn't get him fast. I'd like to see anybody do that, not with Cockell's heart, I'll tell you that."