BoxRec

Maybe during and after the Holmes fight Cooney was wasted.But up until that fight,even though he was coddled along,he was a wrecking machine.Look back at the Ken Norton fight.He beat Norton like a drum.True Norton was shot,but look how savage it was.I remember reading that Cooney had the WHOLE world behind him,as being the only reason he lasted as long as he did against Holmes.Maybe,maybe not,who cares.But until THAT fight,he was a destroyer,maybe it was on journeymen,but if he was around today,and carried that same attitude,how would he fare against some of the fighters today?That long piston jab,and crippling left hook.I would like to see him against Klitschko(not the good one)
zuru

It is really hard to make a case for Cooney. Most of the fighters he beat were not even as good as journeymen. I think that it's easy to look devestating against the caliber he fought. He would of had to have won a couple of meaningful fights to gain credibility.

I remember being sure he'd beat Holmes at the time. But then again, I was only 12 and I didn't know much.....

I'll stand by what I said 23 years ago. Gerry Cooney could have become the heavyweight champion, but he wasn't trained or managed right. I believe Cooney was the biggest puncher in HW division of the early 80's BUT he never learned to hit a moving target. Cooney wasen't ready for Larry Holmes in 82, and while he was exposed as a one dimensional figher in that bout, he still turned in a respectable performance. Victor Valle and the Wacko Twins should have had Cooney in with some fast moving, jabbing B rated fighters so he could develope the ability to cut off the ring. Also in his fight with Holmes I've never understood why Cooney didn't use the high guard he used against the much slower Norton. Exposing your head like that against one of the greatest jabbers in HW division is a guaranteed recipe for disaster.

I knew Holmes would win, but Cooney should've had the WBA title in lockdown before challenging him.