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On Second Thought Cockell Weighty Airline Problem By BARNEY NAGLER NEW YORK, N. Y., June 4. The next week or so is going to be a trying one in the life and times of B. O. A. C, which, as j tutu nr , AO JJilUOll Overseas Airways Corporation, an outfit fallen prey to the American pastime of alphabetizing anything up to and including clear consomme. The British airlines is going to be burdened with assorted fight personages on their way from Foggy Town to Gotham ior KocKy Marcianos party with Ezzard the Gizzard Charles at the Stadium a fortnight hence. Jack Solomons, the reformed fish monger, is certain to be a passenger. So will Don Cockell, Blightys answer, a decade or so later, to Two-Ton Tony Galento. Tony got the way he was, fat and round and not so fully packed, on American beer. How Cockell got that way is not explained. Half and half would only render him half as thick around the middle as he is. B. O. A. C. is going to be confronted with a problem when it comes to Cockell. He weighs around 230, dripping brew, and how is the good old airline going to measure his weight in terms of luggage? If his obesity is involved, hell be able to carry a toothbrush, nothing more, although B. O. A. C.s weight allowances are most liberal indeed. One passenger on a recent flight from London, back the last week in March, was even permitted to carry some heavy thoughts in his noggin concerning Cockell when he boarded the B. O. A. C.s fine flight, The Monarch, at London Airport, inbound to New York. Said passenger was lucky to have been granted the luxury of retaining his weighty mood. Aboard the plane, he was confronted by a fellow passenger, fellow from down on the Essex Downs, by Eastbourne, who wanted to be reassured concerning Cockells future as a heavyweight. This was before Don the ton had whipped Harry "Kid" Matthews, and just after he had been awarded a gratuitous decision over Roland LaStarza, and the passenger who was being asked the question wasnt kindly disposed toward the fat, awkward, dull heavyweight. "He was lucky to win against LaStarza," the passenger replied. "Of course, sir, you are most prejudiced," the Briton alleged and asserted. "Sure," the passenger said. "I am prejudiced on the side .of justice. I saw Cockell hit LaStarza three or four times below the belt and, if I recall correctly, I didnt sec the referee do more than wave a stiff finger under Cockells nose." "Quite proper, quite proper." "Proper, Hell,! the passenger said, "it was prejudice, if tahtsrthe word you want. If LaStarza had been throwing the low ones, he would have suffered the slings of disqualification." Well; the trip on B.O.A.C. a most en joy-able one, coming and going, incidentally is a long time past. Since then, as noted earlier, Cockell has exposed still another American, Mr. Matthews, to ridicule. Once again, Cockell threw at least three low blows. Now, the question arises, is there any sense in Al Weills willingness to consider a title defense for Rocky Marciano in London against Cockell? As sure as Buckingham Palaces dull gray exterior, Marciano would be tossed in the clink and stripped of his toga the very first time he landed one south of the belt. Marciano is disposed toward such a outlandish whippings, Charles curator, Tom Tannas, asserted in a bill of particulars lodged against Marciano the other day. It would be an interesting bout at that, "Marciano Cockell, with first one and then the other screaming foul. If it were to take -place in London, it would pose quite a problem for the British referee. He would have to assay the quantity of dereliction in each low blow before disqualifying either Marciano or Cockell. Guessing just which way he would lean is not too difficult an assignment. However, ther is. one happy fact: The International Boxing Club, which owns and operates Marciano, according to the concord of 1951, will not permit him to get away to London for a title defense. The IBC andor Jim Norris is aware of danger therein. N6rris isnt disposed toward throw- ing a bone to the ex-fish monger, Mr. Solomons. He knows that Marcianos kipper would be cooked even before the goose was served. Now beat that mixed metaphor. Foul!
