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. Cockell Favored To Beat Matthews Britains Fat Boy Weighs . 212 for Tonights Battle; Seeks Crack at Marciano By ROBERT MUSEL United Press Sports Writer LONDON, England, May 31. Don Cockell, Britains bulging heavyweight champion, climbs into the ring Tuesday night on legs as thick as trees tumps a 5-to-3 favorite to beat Harry Matthews of Seattle for a x;rack at Rocky Marcianos world crown. The farming fat boy, whose waistline is boxings most expansive since Tony Gal-ento, wound up light training today and said he would weigh around 212. Matthews, also completed preparations and weighed in at what he was informed was 12 stones, 12 pounds. This translates to 180 pounds and gives Cockell a 32-pound pull in the weights. Promoter Jack Solomons" expects a crowd of about 50,000, which is the limit police allow in White City Stadium for fights. Ringside seats are five guineas 4.75 and the gate never officially announced here should be somewhere around 100,000 or 110,000 sterling 80,000 or 10,000. Thirty-one-year-old Matthews has been hitting sharply in training and has impressed critics, but the odds have swung the other tway because of Cockells. weight advantage and his heavier punching. -Matthews, in fact, is the first well-regarded American to be a betting underdog here in some, years. Express Supreme Confidence So certain is Cockell of winning and so confident is he that his victory will move him to the head of the Marciano line that he and his ailing manager, John Simpson, plan to fly over to see the Charles-Marciano fight in New York on June 17. Simpson isnt well enough to work his fighters corner and plans to see Tuesdays scrap from a ringside seat. If Cockell and Matthews throw as many punches as their managers have exchanged fiery words, Tuesday nights bout will go with the great ring battles of all time. Simpson and Jack Hurley were resting their verbs and adjectives today, apparently satisfied that Solomons has seen it their way. Hurley had said there would be no bout unless something wasc done about the British practice of hitting on the break. Simpson said he would withdraw his man if the American "no foul" rule was adopted. Americans fighting here are always worried that an accidental light brush on or under the waistline or some other infraction, will have the British recipient loudly and successfully claiming foul. The promoter, after considering both sides, Tendered what might be called the judgment of Solomons but unlike the original, he kept his pronouncement secret. Solomons has more to lose Tuesday night than either opponent. Cockell is the last box-office draw left in Britain and if he loses, Jack" might just as well give full-time attention to his wholesale fish business from then on.
