I think we may be taking this a bit too far. I have watched the Cockell fight about 20 times, and Marciano when he hit him behind the head and sent him through the ropes did not intentionally hit him behind the head, but if you watch Cockell was knocked off balance--the bloke was balleting around the ring the whole fight, off-balance and at times sort of hopping about on one leg or the other, and Marciano threw the right and Cockell was sort of spinning to his own right and the blow landed at the side/back of his head and sent him through the ropes. We cannot count that one as a dirty punch.

Now, hoever, I WILL say that Marciano hitting Cockell when he was down on 1 knee was total shit and 2 points should have been deducted. But we still see fighter today 60 years later throwing an extra punch when the guy is down on a knee. We still see it today boys, so how do you expect NOT to see it in 1955> Anyway 2 point deduction no doubt on that one. I agree.

Now as for the Rock punching the arms, hips, biceps of an opponent give me a break. Didnt George Foreman make a career out of throwing punches like that? Since when are punches to the arms and hips illegal? That is a paltry argument to make about Marciano. He rarely threw a low blow I might add except in the rematch with La Starza he was warned 3 or 4 times about it I agree, a point should could have well been taken there.

Main point I think is that arm-punch or hip-punch or whatever shot he was throwing, if we take a point or 2, and/or if he didnt throw that punch, he was knocking the shit out of whoever sooner or later anyway. Would NOT have effected the outcome of the fight in any way shape or form, dont try that line. Please. Fight may have lasted an extra round or 2 at most. Not condoning dirty fighters, I hate watching the Cockell fight for that reason, Marciano got away with some shit at times, just like Ali did, Lennox Lewis got away with A LOT of holding and hitting, roughing up tactics, low blows as well, and Lewis was a real pro (so was Homes) at using the thumb and also lacing the eyes.

Champs always get the slack cut.