Don Cockell

Don Cockell ( born September 22, 1928 in Battersea, England, † 1983) was a British boxer. He was European champion professional boxer in the light heavyweight division.

Career

Amateur career

Don Cockell completed only a short time at the ABC Amateur Earsfield, England. Greater success he achieved not at this time.

Professional career

Already at age 18 Don Cockell stepped over to the pros and signed with manager John Simpsson a contract. His first fight, he denied on October 7, 1946 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, against Jimmy Sales at middleweight. In just his second fight he had against Jock Taylor at Watford, Hertfordshire, insert a point defeat and lost to the same opponent on January 6, 1947 in High Wycomb even by knockout in the fifth round. He overcame these early setbacks quickly and denied in the next two years, many successful establishment fights. On May 18, 1948, he joined, now grown into the light heavyweight division, with the booming Johnny Williams in an important battle in which he won on points. After this victory, the English Boxöffentlichkeit was first really pay attention to Don Cockell. On July 27, 1948, he lost in Birmingham in revenge against Johnny Williams, because he had to retire because of a eyebrow injury in the second round.

His first victory against a foreign boxer won Don Cockell on February 13, 1950 against the however not the first European set scoring Belgian Georges Rogiers, he sure auspunktete in eight rounds. More important was his victory over Lloyd Barnett on March 14, 1950 in the Royal Albert Hall in London. With this victory, he won the right to the English light heavyweight championship fight may. On October 17, 1950, he won this title in London against Mark Hart, whom he beat in the 14th round ko.

Then Don Cockell fought on 14 November 1950 and on February 27, 1951 twice in a row against Lloyd Marshall. The first fight he won, because Marshall had to be disqualified for a low blow. Also in the then scheduled rematch won Don Cockell, this time already by knockout in the first round. On March 27, 1953 Don Cockell fought in London against Frenchman Albert Yvel to the European light heavyweight. He was highly superior in this fight and celebrated a technical knockout victory in the sixth round of Yvel. He was so European champion in light heavyweight.

On October 16, 1951 Don Cockell in London defended his two titles, European Champion and British champion at light heavyweight, against Albert Finch and won by knockout in the seventh round. In his next fight against the dangerous American Jimmy Slade on December 4, 1951 in London Don Cockell had to suffer a heavy defeat. Slade had Cockell sent in the first four rounds of this fight five times on the ground before the referee the defense incompetent Don Cockell took out of the ring.

After a long break Don Cockell then defended on June 10, 1952 in London his British light-heavyweight title against former world champion Randy Turpin. Same time, this fight went to the British Empire title in the light heavyweight division. Don Cockell was taken three times on the ground and was developed by referee Tommy Little in the 11th round of the fight in this fight against Randy Turpin. Da Don Cockell had the European title already laid down without a fight, he was from this point without a title.

Don Cockell changed after this fight because of his constant weight problems in the heavyweight division. He increased his fight this weight within a few months of about 79 kg to about 92 kg. Through a knockout victory over the Welsh veteran Tommy Farr on March 9, 1953 in Nottingham, Don Cockell, the challenge for law won a fight for the British Heavyweight Championship. This battle then took place against the titleholder Johnny Williams in London on 12 May 1953. Don Cockell showed its strength as a heavyweight and won that fight over 15 rounds on points. He was thus again British Champion and British Empire Champion, but at heavyweight.

Don Cockell and his manager John Simpsson now targeted to a battle for the world championship against the American Rocky Marciano. He reached this goal by beating the U.S. world ranking Boxer Roland La Starza on March 30, 1954 in London, and Harry ( Kid) Matthews, the June 1, 1954 in London, and on 31 July 1954 in Seattle, Washington, he, twice in a row auspunktete.

Then the battle for the world championship crown in the heavyweight division took place on 16 May 1955 at Kezar Stadium in crowded San Francisco, California. Don Cockell was found, surprisingly for all boxing experts, the undefeated world champion Rocky Marciano in the first six rounds of this fight equal before asserted itself the stronger physique of Marciano from the seventh round. After 54 seconds of the ninth round then came the end for Don Cockell, when he had to be taken by referee Frankie Brown because of his defense of inability of the ring.

Don Cockell aspired to a quick rematch against Marciano and fought September 13, 1955 against the Cuban Nino Valdes to the challenge right. Nino Valdes, a giant of 1.90 m in size, was for Cockell but too strong. Con Cockell had to be taken already in the third round of the fight.

His last fight denied Don Cockell on April 24, 1956 in London against Kitione Lave from Tonga. He lost this fight by knockout in the second round and then stepped back from boxing.

Championship bouts of Don Cockell