Gerry Cooney, In Any Other Era...

[HomicideHenry]

Cooney only lost three times as a professional in the 1980's and early 1990's, against three Hall of Fame heavyweights: Larry Holmes for the WBC title, Michael Spinks for the Lineal title, and George Foreman. Spinks and Foreman fought the inactive, drug abusing version of Cooney, but even then Foreman remarked that Cooney was the hardest hitting man he ever fought.

My question is this: Would Cooney, in any other era, have lost to the three best? In the 1930's would he have only lost to Schmeling, Louis and Braddock? In the 1950's would he have only lost to Charles, Marciano and Walcott? In the 1970's would he have only lost to Ali, Frazier, and Foreman?

Cooney, according to the history books, had the single hardest left hook of the 1980's, and before facing Holmes was in line to meet Mike Weaver for the WBA title---of course that bout never took place as both Arum and King prevented the show down. Cooney is largely under-rated today as nothing more than a 'white hope', but I believe alot of people would agree that had he been matched more properly he could have been more prepared to battle Holmes, and arguably could have been champion of the WBA.

[Brutu]

Yeah,especially those smarmy smart-ass's on the HBO series One night whatever it was called.
Did not even show Cooney's best moments he had in the Holmes fight.

[Ezzard]

If he had brought the fire he showed against Larry into the ring against Weaver I think he'd have won.

[Goodnight, Irene]

You're gonna mention Cooney was past-it against Foreman...what, may I ask,w as George?

Just because he had success at an older age, doesn't mean Foreman wasn't an absolute shell of the force he once was. Fair's fair. Spinks wasn't a natural Heavy & had a massive size disadvantage to overcome, as well. All worth balancing against Cooney's sorry state.

Good fighter, not under-rated, though. His chin & inability to beat very good or great men in (or even anywhere close) to their primes are major issues.

[Brutu]

Too much inactivity,ring rust and of course of the nagging upper back/ left shoulder injury marred his career
when he should have been in his peak years.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Too much inactivity,ring rust and of course of the nagging upper back/ left shoulder injury marred his career
when he should have been in his peak years.

He also went to pieces (at just twenty-five or six or whatever he was) after losing to Holmes --- more peak years needlessly lost.

[dempseyfire]

I'm not convinced he beats Weaver at all . . .if he does, he better do it early a la Dokes/Bonecrusher Smith, b/c in the later rounds Weaver's punch will take a tiring Cooney's head off.

[granberry]

You're gonna mention Cooney was past-it against Foreman...what, may I ask,was George?

You nailed the shill with that one.

LOL

[granberry]

Cooney lost to anyone who hit him back.

[HomicideHenry]

Cooney lost to anyone who hit him back.

Thats pure BS granberry. Cooney fought harder in defeat. The man had some balls. Pure and simple.

[Brutu]

Did Mike Weaver have Panama Lewis in his corner when he fought Gerrie Coetzee?

[granberry]

Cooney lost to anyone who hit him back.

Thats pure BS granberry. Cooney fought harder in defeat. The man had some balls. Pure and simple.

Yeah, he was great against the great heavyweight, Michael Spinks.
What balls, pure and simple. LOL

When they brought Cooney up he fought fighters who were not training regularly--in 10 round fights--so they would run out of gas after a few rounds. I know of two such cases personally.

Another basic rule when you are bringing along a stooge like Cooney is--NEVER put him in with an opponent who can punch.

The build up for Cooney was so obvious a two year old could see it easily.

Then "fighting" what are known as dead bodies--like Norton and Lyle.
And drugging up what was left of Jimmy Young and instructing him to stand still directly in front of Cooney and let Cooney hit him to the head and body.

While of course the retards thrill to the "fights" they are watching.

Michael Spinks was never a legitimate heavyweight.

Losing to Michael Spinks shows exactly where Cooney rates as a heavyweight.

Nowhere.

[Brutu]

I get the feeling thats what Larry Holmes thoughts were too right after he got the news that Michael Spinks defeated Gerry Cooney.
Cheap skate probably didnt even bother to buy it on pay-per-view