In 1955 Don Cockell travelled by boat to San Francisco for his world heavyweight title fight against the imperial Rocky Marciano, just a few miles from where Paul Smith lost at the weekend.

SAN FRANCISCO — Now that is has been determined Don Cockell was an insufficient if game opponent for Rocky Marciano, the big question is: Who has even an outside chance to beat The Rock?

Seems that the last all-white heavyweight bout was fought between Rocky Marciano and Don Cockell of England on May 16, 1955. Marciano won on a technical knockout at 55 seconds of the ninth round.

Rocky Marciano sent courageous Don Cockell home to England on his shield, a blood-spattered technical knockout victim tonight in 54 seconds of the ninth round in the fifth defense of his world ...

My dog pulled on his leash, eager to sniff the next lamppost, when I stopped to stare at the billboard across the street. "SEE IT ON FILM NOW! ROCKY MARCIANO vs. DON ...

But financial needs drove him back to the ring 10 years later, the ageing champion prospering until his final fight, a 1953 British title eliminator against Don Cockell.

Don was stopped in 54 seconds of the ninth round, and for the sake of humanity — and especially Cockell’s physical well-being — it would have been better had Don succumbed in, say the fourth ...