Teofilo Stevenson vs Gerry Cooney (1976 Olympics)

[Tony1244]

Cooney didn't enter the 1976 Olympic Trials because of his father's illness. He would have had to get past guys like Marvin Stinson, Michael Dokes, and the eventual US representative Big John Tate.

Could the young lanky Cooney have had a chance against Teolfilo? Could Gerry have gotten to the Olympics?

[HomicideHenry]

If Duane Bobick could do it I don't see why Cooney couldn't have done the same thing.

[Nile4000]

Gerry didn't have the experience of dealing Cubans, not a lot of international experience. Teo would stop Gerry in 1.

[Tony1244]

If Duane Bobick could do it I don't see why Cooney couldn't have done the same thing.

Not sure if you are talking about the Munich Olympics or the Pan American games where Bobick decisioned Stevenson.

[Joson]

Stevenson would have KO'd Cooney in one round in 1976, in an amateur fight.

In fact, I believe that Stevenson could have done something similar as late as 1980, if he'd been allowed to turn pro and fight Cooney.

Gerry was simply too easy to hit and lacked durability.

[Tony1244]

Stevenson would have KO'd Cooney in one round in 1976, in an amateur fight.

In fact, I believe that Stevenson could have done something similar as late as 1980, if he'd been allowed to turn pro and fight Cooney.

Gerry was simply too easy to hit and lacked durability.

I'm reading Cooney's book which had me thinking about this. I agree that the Cuban would have aced him in the first round. Cooney's amateur career was a good one but he never fought a John Tate or Mike Dokes. He may not have made it that far. Looks like he made the right decision.

[gilgamesh]

Stevenson dominates Cooney and stops him

[oogiebe]

Quick and painless. Teo in 1

[Joson]

Stevenson would have KO'd Cooney in one round in 1976, in an amateur fight.

In fact, I believe that Stevenson could have done something similar as late as 1980, if he'd been allowed to turn pro and fight Cooney.

Gerry was simply too easy to hit and lacked durability.

I'm reading Cooney's book which had me thinking about this. I agree that the Cuban would have aced him in the first round. Cooney's amateur career was a good one but he never fought a John Tate or Mike Dokes. He may not have made it that far. Looks like he made the right decision.

Cooney did score one world class amateur victory, a knockout over the Soviet Nikolai Aksenov in 1975. It was televised by ABC Wide World of Sports, one of ten fights between a crew of Soviet and American heavyweights.

Cooney sparked Aksenov with a single left-hook. Devastating. But only seconds prior, Aksenov had hurt Cooney with a shot to the jaw. This fight pretty much illustrated Cooney's strengths and vulnerabilities, all in one round.

[Joson]

If Duane Bobick could do it I don't see why Cooney couldn't have done the same thing.

Bobick beat Stevenson in the 1971 Pan-American Games. That was Duane's signature career victory. If I recall correctly, this win established Bobick as the world's best amateur heavyweight.

But Stevenson was still a developing young fighter in 1971. During the next year, he improved hugely, and surprised everyone by KO'ing Bobick at the Olympics.

Going into the 1972 games, the world's best heavyweights ranked in order by ability, were Bobick, Stevenson, and the Soviet Yuri Nesterov.

But because of the ballot draw, these guys had to fight each other in the opening elimination stages of the Olympics. First Bobick and Nesterov were paired, with Duane winning a decision. Stevenson got a pass. Then the ballot paired Stevenson and Bobick,. After that, the rest of the tournament was a picnic for Stevenson. No competition.

So two of the best three heavyweights in 1972 went home without getting a silver or bronze medal.

I've always thought that fighters shouldn't be paired by ballot in high-stakes amateur boxing tournaments. They should change the system, making it more like NCAA basketball seedings. That would ensure that the four best boxers advance to the semi-finals and finals.