The Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney Fight

[ThatOne]

Larry said Ronald Reagan had a special phone to Cooney's dressing room so he could be one of the first to congratulate him. Sounds like bullisht.

[SenorPipino]

Being from New York,

The 'Cooney Hype' was built up beyond belief.

'Black-White', The Great White Hope theme was smartly promoted, that even 'non-sports' minded
women were taking sides.

I'm not basing this on overall talent, but more of a true 'Great White Hope' theme.

Both 'undefeated', Larry Holmes seeking respect, and Gerry Cooney being the first 'White American Heavyweight'
to have a real shot at winning the Heavyweight Championship as a Challenger since Rocky Marciano
{30 years earlier}.

Everywhere you went in New York, it was 'Green' with the Irish Brigade. And out in Long Island, it
was called 'Cooney Country'.

Never seen anything like it {before or since}.

So your view of the 2 matchups is colored by the fabled "East Coast Bias?"

Having lived on the West Coast during both Ali-Frazier and Holmes Cooney, I can say that there wasn't anywhere near the public buzz out here for the 1982 bout as there was for Joe and Ali.
Holmes-Cooney never intrigued me despite the hype. I just didn't see Cooney in Holmes' class. Thought it would be a routine executuition of the Irishman. When Cooney went down in the 2nd round, I figured my suspicions about Cooney's fistic caliber were correct
But I give him credit for coming back and making it a contest. But as I said earlier, I think Holmes was overly cautious and should have taken Cooney out earlier.

My main interest in the bout was over a $50 bet I made with my bank teller. She knew nothing about boxing but had heard of Cooney and was certain he'd win.
Like most women who lose a bet, she never paid off.

[HomicideHenry]

The difference between Ali/Frazier and Louis/Schmeling and Holmes/Cooney is very small indeed. All bouts had the same elements. In Ali/Frazier it was the true 'people's champion' and the 'system's champion', the true 'black man' and the 'white man's version of what a black man should be', etc.

In Louis/Schmeling, it was 'America' versus 'Germany', Equality versus Elitism, Morality versus Evil. Race factored little in the rematch---- even though the Nazis used Schmeling as a tool to sell their agenda of a master race; as the Nazis used the first victory as 'evidence' that black people had no strong constitution and were lazy.

With Holmes/Cooney, it was popularity versus merit, ideals versus reality, which culminated into being short of a race war. Holmes, great champion that he was, just didn't connect with the general public---- blacks only got behind him when the battle lines of black vs. white were drawn, otherwise they didn't believe in him the way they did Ali. He was a master tactician and had all the qualities one could want in a champion---- but he wasn't exciting. He wasn't popular.

Then comes this kid who was handsome, humble, and was knocking people out left and right. He had an excellent promotional team and was made to sound better than he was. People preferred seeing him more so than Holmes. Being white and of Irish descent was just a small factor in the popularity. He was exciting to watch and his matches only lasted one round or two rounds for the most part. People wanted him to be champion. He was popular. He was everything Holmes wasnt.

It's a natural to put the two together. The right man won, and we acknowledged Holmes greatness. But it didnt make him any more popular. In fact, it was the opposite. The man in some circles grew even more disliked. And it wouldnt be until Michael Spinks beat Holmes, did the public get behind a champion--- as after all Spinks was a gold medalist and was a great LHW champ, etc. but even we all knew sooner or later a true heavyweight would put an end to Spinks. Enter Mike Tyson, and everyone finally had the champion we waited almost two decades for.

Cooney/Holmes, for me, tells the story of not just how racist the business is, but the truth of boxing fans. We wanted someone exciting, popular, who was on the Late Show with Johnny Carson and on the cover of RING magazine with the big move stars, etc. and its still the same truth we have today. We either want Wladimir Klitschko to start taking more risks and become more exciting, or we're hoping that someone comes along, shows no fear and drops him like a bad habit.

[elmersalsa]

Hey, nice post, Homicide!!!

[RadioElRadar]

Cooney didn't disgrace himself, he was just outclassed. If I'd been supporting Cooney (I wasn't born at the time but I'd always have supported Holmes) I would've been fearing embarassment after the knockdown in the second but he did well to hang in there.

I had it much wider than the judges.

[ThatOne]

I wasn't a big Holmes fan but I rooted for him to win because of the people who rooted for him to lose.

[elmersalsa]

At first, I wanted Cooney to beat Holmes because Holmes beat the great and beloved hero of mine Muhammad Ali. That is why Holmes was not as popular at the time. And still was not popular after the Cooney fight. When the great Mike Tyson snuffed him up by a brutal KO when Holmes was 38, I saw lots of great smiles in people's faces. It was a very brutal KO.

[elmersalsa]

Excellent Post 'Double H',

Surprisingly, My Grandfather said that more 'young' people were listening to the
Radio when Joe Louis fought Billy Conn, than Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling.

He worked for an 'air-wave survey monitoring' at the time, and more were in tune
with Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn.

In 'America', post 1957 as the most anticipated and best promoted Championship Bouts.

In Boxing Events' I have it
#1......... Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney
#2......... Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali I
#3......... Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali

I am sorry Il Dulce, but Holmes vs Cooney could've never been more anticipated than the Fight of the Century of Ali vs Frazier I. I was only 2 years old at the time of Ali vs Frazier I, but, seeing the clips and the promotion of that time on tape I could see that there was a very big enthusiasm and following. And still, after all these years, Ali vs Frazier I was the most anticipated of the last 42 years. The second fight that I call recall as big as that in terms of anticipation was not even a heavyweight fight.

[elmersalsa]

What if Cooney would have challenged Mike Weaver, the WBA World Heavyweight Champion instead of Holmes? Would he would have become world champion if that fight would have taken place?

[Nile4000]

What if Cooney would have challenged Mike Weaver, the WBA World Heavyweight Champion instead of Holmes? Would he would have become world champion if that fight would have taken place?

Good chance he might have won, but more likely, Weaver would've flattened him late.

[BoxBuzz]

Gerry Cooney 'fast starter' vs. Mike Weaver 'slow-starter'.

Spells 'D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R'

Think?

[BoxBuzz]

So you see Mike buried under that pile of bricks?

[Dart340]

If Cooney would've approached Holmes with his usual anger and attacked with abandon at the opening bell like he should've, I think Larry would've been under that R-U-B-B-L-E....

[Ambling Alp II]

Cooney fought as well as he could have; and was competitive. It was Holmes' toughest fight since winning the title vs Norton. One thing I never understood is why Mills Lane deducted 2 points from Cooney for one low blow. Never have seen that in any other fight.

[dempseyfire]

Cooney fought as well as he could have; and was competitive. It was Holmes' toughest fight since winning the title vs Norton. One thing I never understood is why Mills Lane deducted 2 points from Cooney for one low blow. Never have seen that in any other fight.

What are you talking about? Larry's fights with Weaver and the Shavers rematch were certainly tougher for Holmes than Cooney . . .

[jrc26]

FYI...Ford and Moretti had it 113-111 for Holmes at the time of the stoppage, which means they had Cooney ahead on rounds...he was deducted 3 points for punching in the sack.

[ThatOne]

I didn't like Larry because he beat my idol but I rooted for him against Cooney because a lot of people were rooting for Cooney for all the wrong reason. But as I said Cooney acquitted himself well. He didn't embarrass himself.

[BoxBuzz]

A Soft spot for curmudgeons?

[evrenb]

A Soft spot for curmudgeons?

lol my favourite word....Il Duce; he of the curmudgeonly disposition ... .

[ThatOne]

A Soft spot for curmudgeons?

lol my favourite word....Il Duce; he of the cantankerous and curmudgeonly disposition ... .

FIXED

[evrenb]

A Soft spot for curmudgeons?

lol my favourite word....Il Duce; he of the cantankerous and curmudgeonly disposition ... .

FIXED

He of the cantankerous, curmudgeonly, obstreperous, discombobulated manner . . . his abode resume is fictitious; a veritable peregrination of the warped mind.

eb

[Nile4000]

Can't see Gerry taking out an experienced Mike early.Weaver would weather the storm and score the late round kayo, which if it happened in late 1981 as planned would've ruined Cooney's career/.