Gerry Cooney overated?????

[drunkenpiper36]

'IF'

Gerry Coney was 'Knocked Out' by Larry Alexander in a 'closed smoker bout' in March 1979,
then he was 'damaged goods'.

Lots of fighters get their asses handed to them in sparring sessions by lesser men. sparring rings are generally smaller than professional rings, and if the named guy went out drinking the night before while the lesser guy is doing everything he can to make an impression, then a bad day at the office is certainly inevitable. Tyson was decked in sparring by lesser men, Ali had a few shaky moments in the gym, and I even heard that Tim Witherspoon was knocked out by a middle weight sparring partner, but have no source to verify it. Someone posted that on ESB a few years back.

[Tuan_Jim]

I even heard that Tim Witherspoon was knocked out by a middle weight sparring partner, but have no source to verify it. Someone posted that on ESB a few years back.

[Nile4000]

I recall reading Norton's autobiography, and how he rehashed the Cooney fight in his mind. For what its worth, he made it sound like he was offered to do the fight, and he wasn't overly interested in boxing after LeDoux and Cobb anyways. So, if that ever was an admission of someone coming in as a lamb led to slaughter, then I dont know what is.

It was just a last payday for a completely finished fighter. Cooney versus Ledoux and Cobb would have been good fights.

Even Cooney vs Berbick, would've been decent.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I recall reading Norton's autobiography, and how he rehashed the Cooney fight in his mind. For what its worth, he made it sound like he was offered to do the fight, and he wasn't overly interested in boxing after LeDoux and Cobb anyways. So, if that ever was an admission of someone coming in as a lamb led to slaughter, then I dont know what is.

It was just a last payday for a completely finished fighter. Cooney versus Ledoux and Cobb would have been good fights.

Even Cooney vs Berbick, would've been decent.

Sure, I'd have to go with Berbick there. Good chin and strong, he'd grind the frail giant down.

[Bodyshot3]

I dislike been unkind or disrepectful to any fighter unless their own behaviour warrants a degree of criticism.

But I will openly admit to never really 'getting' Gerry Cooney or understanding what the colossal fuss was about; I am guessing it was his sheer size and displays of punching power against named opponents who were the slide, and as Don King crudely put it 'the right complexion.' The good fight with Holmes - who was a dominant champion - must have also reinforced the belief that Cooney could come again and get to the top of the division?

My view is slightly jaded because the first fight I saw him involved with was getting flattened by Mike Spinks. And that struck me as massively disappointing considering Cooney's size advantage, big rep as a puncher and the way even the British press devoted so many column inches to him.

I am not sure whether he really ranks any higher than Duane Bobick (perhaps harsh) and he is possibly behind Morrison and Quarry in terms of his achievements as a post-Marciano white American heavyweight. Coetzee strikes me as being the most relevant white heavyweight of that particular timeframe and by some distance.

[drunkenpiper36]

I dislike been unkind or disrepectful to any fighter unless their own behaviour warrants a degree of criticism.

But I will openly admit to never really 'getting' Gerry Cooney or understanding what the colossal fuss was about; I am guessing it was his sheer size and displays of punching power against named opponents who were the slide, and as Don King crudely put it 'the right complexion.' The good fight with Holmes - who was a dominant champion - must have also reinforced the belief that Cooney could come again and get to the top of the division?

My view is slightly jaded because the first fight I saw him involved with was getting flattened by Mike Spinks. And that struck me as massively disappointing considering Cooney's size advantage, big rep as a puncher and the way even the British press devoted so many column inches to him.

I am not sure whether he really ranks any higher than Duane Bobick (perhaps harsh) and he is possibly behind Morrison and Quarry in terms of his achievements as a post-Marciano white American heavyweight. Coetzee strikes me as being the most relevant white heavyweight of that particular timeframe and by some distance.

He was over hyped and over ranked in his day.. But he's also too harshly judged on his past prime performances and unduly criticized for fighting " nobody." Whilst its true that Norton, Lyle and Young were past their primes, with at least two of them ( Lyle and Norton ) being shot, I doubt an honest person could list more than perhaps 10-12 fighters in 1980 who were better than those three, and even fewer who would have done to them what Cooney did. And even though Eddie Gregg, Phillip Brown, Eddie Lopez, George Chaplin and Dino Denis were hardly world beaters they weren't tomato cans either. All were dispatched with ease.. What Cooney has are emphatic wins over semi-decent opposition and a competitive loss to an ATG in his prime. Nothing wrong with that, but what's missing is the "middle". We never saw him beat nor even fight someone who was better than an aging Young, yet perhaps a step or two below a Larry Holmes.. For this reason I concur that his legacy is inflated. But I don't buy into the usual notion on a lot of these forums that he would have just "dropped" to anyone with a heart beat..

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I dislike been unkind or disrepectful to any fighter unless their own behaviour warrants a degree of criticism.

But I will openly admit to never really 'getting' Gerry Cooney or understanding what the colossal fuss was about; I am guessing it was his sheer size and displays of punching power against named opponents who were the slide, and as Don King crudely put it 'the right complexion.' The good fight with Holmes - who was a dominant champion - must have also reinforced the belief that Cooney could come again and get to the top of the division?

My view is slightly jaded because the first fight I saw him involved with was getting flattened by Mike Spinks. And that struck me as massively disappointing considering Cooney's size advantage, big rep as a puncher and the way even the British press devoted so many column inches to him.

I am not sure whether he really ranks any higher than Duane Bobick (perhaps harsh) and he is possibly behind Morrison and Quarry in terms of his achievements as a post-Marciano white American heavyweight. Coetzee strikes me as being the most relevant white heavyweight of that particular timeframe and by some distance.

Good post, Morrison and Quarry are definitely more accomplished than Cooney.

[drunkenpiper36]

Boy, for a guy who beat just as many if not more washed up fighters ( a few of whom he struggled with ) and got sparked in one round by Michael Bentt, Morrison sure receives a lot of props here.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Being more accomplished than Cooney isn't exactly nominating someone for the HOF. Just stating the obvious.

[drunkenpiper36]

Being more accomplished than Cooney isn't exactly nominating someone for the HOF. Just stating the obvious.

Yes, because being sparked by michael bentt, dropped twice by an 8-8 Ross Purity, creamed by Mercer, nearly beaten by a shot Carl Williams and having his jaw broken against a high level journeyman with average power is quite the distinction

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Being more accomplished than Cooney isn't exactly nominating someone for the HOF. Just stating the obvious.

Yes, because being sparked by michael bentt, dropped twice by an 8-8 Ross Purity, creamed by Mercer, nearly beaten by a shot Carl Williams and having his jaw broken against a high level journeyman with average power is quite the distinction

[drunkenpiper36]

Being more accomplished than Cooney isn't exactly nominating someone for the HOF. Just stating the obvious.

Yes, because being sparked by michael bentt, dropped twice by an 8-8 Ross Purity, creamed by Mercer, nearly beaten by a shot Carl Williams and having his jaw broken against a high level journeyman with average power is quite the distinction

Glad I put that one to rest...

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Yes, because being sparked by michael bentt, dropped twice by an 8-8 Ross Purity, creamed by Mercer, nearly beaten by a shot Carl Williams and having his jaw broken against a high level journeyman with average power is quite the distinction

Glad I put that one to rest...

[drunkenpiper36]

That is so cool when you do that... It seriously leaves one with the impression that you know something they don't, but have better things to do than to respond to them, leaving that person feeling totally inadequate..

NOT...........

[SaadOffTheDeck]

That is so cool when you do that... It seriously leaves one with the impression that you know something they don't, but have better things to do than to respond to them, leaving that person feeling totally inadequate..

NOT...........

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I am not sure whether he really ranks any higher than Duane Bobick (perhaps harsh) and he is possibly behind Morrison and Quarry in terms of his achievements as a post-Marciano white American heavyweight. Coetzee strikes me as being the most relevant white heavyweight of that particular timeframe and by some distance.

And don't let Cooney boy fool you; Foreman, Williams and Ruddock are all far better results than anything Gerry put forth. He was better than Bobick though, that is harsh.

[HomicideHenry]

Quarry would of beat Bobick, Cooney and had enough left over to decision Coetzee.

[drunkenpiper36]

I am not sure whether he really ranks any higher than Duane Bobick (perhaps harsh) and he is possibly behind Morrison and Quarry in terms of his achievements as a post-Marciano white American heavyweight. Coetzee strikes me as being the most relevant white heavyweight of that particular timeframe and by some distance.

And don't let Cooney boy fool you; Foreman, Williams and Ruddock are all far better results than anything Gerry put forth. He was better than Bobick though, that is harsh.

Michael Bentt KO 1 Tommy Morrison

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I am not sure whether he really ranks any higher than Duane Bobick (perhaps harsh) and he is possibly behind Morrison and Quarry in terms of his achievements as a post-Marciano white American heavyweight. Coetzee strikes me as being the most relevant white heavyweight of that particular timeframe and by some distance.

And don't let Cooney boy fool you; Foreman, Williams and Ruddock are all far better results than anything Gerry put forth. He was better than Bobick though, that is harsh.

Michael Bentt KO 1 Tommy Morrison

[drunkenpiper36]

[/quote]

Did that put you to sleep? Let's try again. Ray Mercer KO 5 Tommy Morrison

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Did that put you to sleep? Let's try again. Ray Mercer KO 5 Tommy Morrison

[drunkenpiper36]

Did that put you to sleep? Let's try again. Ray Mercer KO 5 Tommy Morrison

Well maybe three times a charm.. 8-8 Ross Purity D 10 Tommy Morrison ( after two knockdowns )

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Did that put you to sleep? Let's try again. Ray Mercer KO 5 Tommy Morrison

Well maybe three times a charm.. 8-8 Ross Purity D 10 Tommy Morrison ( after two knockdowns )

[drunkenpiper36]

Old Carl Williams knockdown X2 Tommy Morrison.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Old Carl Williams knockdown X2 Tommy Morrison.