Fighters who were hindered by their trainers ?

[Expug]

Victor Vale was Cooneys trainer and it seemed as though they had a certain bond. If not a father/son type relationship, maybe a close friendship.
This can sometimes be detrimental.
Maybe Gerry could have developed a bit better if he had a different trainer. Maybe. I’m not sure how he could’ve fought much differently. Possibly better footwork, maybe move his head more. But he was always gonna rely on that big left hook. Body , head.
Cooneys obstacle was Jones and Rappaport.

[Caractacus]

BTW Dennis Rappaport (of The Wacko Twins) has just published his autobiography.
anyone here read it yet ?
here is a link about it.
https://iamrappaport.com

[goose 5]

I knew Cooney's personal matchmaker very well. He always defended Cooney's opponents when the allegations of soft matchmaking were leveled. Cooney's bad left shoulder was worse than was ever publicly disclosed.

[keithmoonhangover]

I knew Cooney's personal matchmaker very well. He always defended Cooney's opponents when the allegations of soft matchmaking were leveled. Cooney's bad left shoulder was worse than was ever publicly disclosed.

I thought Cooney did well with the skills he had. He only lost to first ballot HOFers, made good money and got out of the sport with most of his brains intact.

[Ambling Alp II]

From a fan's point of view, I think many people wished he would have fought some of the guys like Weaver, Dokes, Coetzee, Witherspoon, Thomas, etc.
But yeah, from health and $ perspective, his managers did a great job for him. I don't think his trainer hurt his cause but it's hard to say.
He did have some ability. He was more competitive against Holmes than most of Holmes' competition was at the time.

[Seamus]

Totally agree with Expug. The Wacko Twins kept Cooney from possibly winning a world title. His punching power was real, but he couldn't hit a moving target. Tillis and Snipes' people were begging for a fight to no avail.

[Caractacus]

So why didn't Quick Tillis fight Gerry Cooney and the winner fight Mike Weaver for his title ?
From what I remember reading it was Cooney that was rated 1 and Tillis 2
when Tillis got the shot at a title. Cooney's handlers offered 1 million dollars to him for 'stepping aside" money.