As Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder negotiations rumble on, take time to remember the good old days of Rocky Marciano

THE boring bargaining over the Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder unification fight seems to be lasting as long as the Brexit negotiations.

Which is a good enough reason to recall the good old days when Rocky Marciano was the one and only world heavyweight champion and everyone from Afghanistan to Zanzibar knew who he was.

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Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight to retire undefeated with a perfect 49-0 record

Marciano held the title from 1952-55 and is the only heavyweight champion in history to retire undefeated with a perfect 49-0 record that included no less than 43 knockouts.

There have been many books written about the life and times of one of America’s most revered sporting heroes.

Rocky was killed fifty years ago next month when the light aircraft he had cadged a lift on crashed on its way to Des Moines on the eve of his 46th birthday.

That’s an excuse for more books to be published about him on both sides of the Atlantic.

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Remember Rocky Marciano during the boredom of waiting for the Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder to be announced

John Jarrett, veteran British boxing writer has produced a comprehensive study of the man they called the Brockton Blockbuster.

But 20th Century Caveman was the far more accurate description of Marciano.

The softy-spoken, inoffensive son of Italian immigrants suddenly transformed into a savage the moment he climbed through the ropes.

Rocky never bothered to tear up the Marques of Queensberry rules because he never knew they even existed.

Best selling author Budd Schulberg, who covered most of Marciano’s major battles was of the opinion he was really a bare knuckle fighter who happened to wear gloves.

As a teenager I remember reading the horror stories about the kind of vicious punishment he handed out as he battered his opponents.

Don Cockell, when he was British champion bravely challenged Marciano in the penultimate of his six title defences at San Francisco’s open-air Kezar stadium, in May 1955.

When I interviewed Don for Sunsport 47 years ago he gave me a vivid account of the torture Rocky inflicted on him when he was allowed to use every dirty trick known to man plus a few more he invented.

Cockell a 10-1 underdog was under no illusions - he knew he had no chance of beating Marciano the moment he signed the contract.

But he had his pride and he wanted to ensure he was allowed to go down fighting.

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Rocky Marciano held the heavyweight title between 1952 and 1955

A few hours before he left his hotel for the arena Don took his manager John Simpson into the bathroom and closed the door.

Making sure no one else in his entourage could hear he made Simpson swear on the bible that whatever Marciano did to him he wouldn’t stop the fight - reluctantly Simpson agreed.

Cockell’s worst fears were soon realised. For round after round Rocky inflicted every kind of illegal indignity on his head and body.

Though it was a long time ago I remember the wry smile Don had on his face when he told me: “He came up with every foul you could think of.

“He head-butted me, elbowed me, gave me the shoulder, hit me low, hit me after the bell and before the referee stopped the fight in the ninth round he hit me while I was on the canvas.

“He kept beating me like a demented butcher flattening a lump of veal.”

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Don Cockell bravely took on Rocky Marciano... and lost

Cockell, who was only 54 when he died from cancer 25 years ago never once complained about the way he was treated.

Philosophically, he said: “There was no point protesting. You don’t expect any favours when you are away from home fighting for the big one.

“There’s no doubt Rocky was a very good fighter. The problem was when he had a man in trouble he got carried away a bit.”

That’s a classic example of British understatement. Mike Tyson liked to be known as the Baddest Man on the Planet.

Compared to Rocky Marciano he was the poster-boy for mild-mannered gentility.

*Rocky Marciano the Brockton Blockbuster by John Jarrett, published by Pitch Publishing Ltd, price £18.99.

THE boring bargaining over the Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder unification fight seems to be lasting as long as the Brexit negotiations.