35 Facts About Don Cockell

Donald John Cockell was an English boxer who competed from 1946 to 1956.

One of the most well known boxers from the UK during the era, Cockell held the British and European light heavyweight titles, and later moved up in weight to become the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion.

Don Cockell is best remembered for fighting against Rocky Marciano for the world heavyweight championship.

Don Cockell's full name was Donald John Cockell and he was born on 22 September 1928 in Balham, London, the son of Mary Cockell, a domestic servant from Battersea.

Don Cockell was a blacksmith by trade, and as a result developed a strong physique.

Don Cockell began boxing in fairground booths and soon rose through the amateur ranks until he was ready to turn professional in 1946.

Don Cockell had his first professional fight on 26 June 1946 against Trevor Lowder and won it by a knockout in the fifth round.

In 1950 Don Cockell entered a brief tournament to crown a new British light-heavyweight champion, recently vacated due to the retirement of Freddie Mills.

Don Cockell fought and won two more fights against future Hall of Famer Lloyd Marshal, before challenging the Frenchman Albert Yvel for his European light-heavyweight title.

The bout took place on 27 March 1951 at Earls Court, London, and Cockell won the title by scoring a technical knockout in the sixth round.

Don Cockell had two more wins before defending his British and European titles against Albert Finch, who had previously been British welterweight champion.

The bout was held on 16 October 1951, at Harringay Arena, and Don Cockell won by a knockout in the seventh round.

Don Cockell decisively lost his next fight against the American heavyweight Jimmy Slade.

Don Cockell followed this defeat with a points win against Italian light-heavyweight Renato Tontini, despite being knocked down twice in the second round.

Don Cockell then fought against Randolph Turpin, who the year before, had become one of the few to defeat Sugar Ray Robinson, becoming world middleweight champion as a result before losing his title in the rematch.

Don Cockell was defending his British title, and both fighters were contesting the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title.

Don Cockell was knocked down three times during the fight and lost on a technical knockout in the eleventh round.

One of the reasons for the defeat was the difficulty that Don Cockell had in making the weight for light-heavyweight fights.

Don Cockell therefore decided to fight subsequently as a heavyweight.

Don Cockell found success at heavyweight, and in his next three heavyweight fights, all were won by technical knockouts.

The bout for the British and Commonwealth titles was held at Harringay Arena on 12 May 1953, and Don Cockell won on points over fifteen rounds.

Don Cockell then had two more wins before defending his Commonwealth title against Johnny Arthur in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Don Cockell won the fight on points after fifteen rounds.

In 1954, Don Cockell moved rapidly up the heavyweight rankings by scoring four wins against top rated American fighters.

Don Cockell first defeated heavyweight challenger Roland La Starza on points at Earls Court Arena, then won three close successive victories over the highly rated Harry Matthews, the second fight was held at the White City Stadium, and the first and third at Sicks' Stadium, Seattle.

On 16 May 1955, Don Cockell fought Marciano for the world heavyweight title at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, CA.

Don Cockell ended the eighth round hanging through the ropes after withstanding a terrific beating.

Marciano won the fight by a technical knockout 54 seconds into round nine after Don Cockell had been knocked down twice, for counts of eight and seven.

Many boxing fans in Britain felt that Marciano employed unfair tactics, such as hitting after the bell and low punches, but although the British Boxing Board of Control protested, Don Cockell himself made no complaints.

Don Cockell had promised his Union Jack supporters that he would not let them down, and the first words he mumbled through swollen lips after his fearful beating in nine rounds were an apology to his fellow countrymen for not having done better.

Don Cockell sued the Daily Mail after the newspaper had described him as being 'overweight and flabby' for his last fight, and not giving his all.

Don Cockell had 81 official fights, winning 66, of which 38 were by knockouts, and lost 14, with one drawn fight.

Don Cockell tried various jobs including running a farm, being a publican, and running a haulage firm based at Ninfield in East Sussex.

Don Cockell died of cancer on 18 July 1983 at a hospital in Tooting.

Don Cockell was married to Patricia Mary Cockell and had a son Patrick and Brother worked with him.