BoxRec

oK, I know some are a little bored with the Vitali question now but I think this would actually have been a very interesting fight... had it happened in the 80s it would have been a real Rocky 4!.... I'd go for Klitchenko by ko in about 10 or 11 rounds.... Vitali would control the ponderous Cooney with his jab and his power shots would wear Cooney down... at the same time Vitali would be able to take any bombs that Cooney landed!....
Views!.... and lets keep it clean!... 8)

I’ve gotta agree with you on this one. A matchup of two guys who probably never achieved what they should have, I’d give the edge to Vitali because I think he was more durable and would have been able to wear down the power hitting Cooney.

Klitschko. More durable, more reliable.

Cooney more talent, but nothing else. For once Cooney would be picking on someone his own size, which I'm sure would intimidate him no end.

Cooney would have hsi moments, but Klit prevails inside 8 rounds. Cooney busted up & helpless.

Decagon wrote:Klitschko wasn't durable. He got injured in his two only fights against top heavyweights. I'd say that Klitschko dominates Cooney early, knocks the big man down in the 9th, injures his knee in the 10th and quits before the 11th starts.

Cooney by first round stoppage when Klitschko is blinded in a clinch by a Cooney nipple.

How many people care about Vitali? Not me!

Cooney fought harder in defeat than I think Klitschko ever did. The only time Klitschko showed guts was in his match with an out-of-shape 40 year old Lennox Kewis. Cooney showed guts against Holmes, Foreman and Spinks and wouldn't quit until he was beaten beyond repair or knocked out cold.

Before Tyson came around Gerry Cooney had arguably THE hardest left hook of the early 1980's, his blow outs of Norton, Young proved he was a powerful puncher, though those men were on the decline. Cooney's only real problems was he rarely used his right hand and he had some emotional problems and was managed badly.

Had Cooney have avoided Holmes he would have become champion of the WBA and could have improved more as a fighter, had he taken more tune ups against greater opposition, and could have taken on Holmes. Mind you, though Cooney lost, the score cards were close.

Klitschko lost to Byrd, when he could have did NOTHING for the last three rounds and would have still won. Klitschko gave Lewis a good fight, but neither men were in shape and it was a sloppy ass mess. Klitschko bombs out relatively unknown Corrie Sanders for the WBC title that was vacant by Lewis, and then defends it against mediocre Danny Williams. Oh..and yea, he harpooned Kirk Johnson in 2 rounds.

Cooney lost to HALL OF FAME FIGHTERS. Everybody else never came close to getting Cooney. And I bet that even Norton, Young who were on the decline, would have beaten Williams and Byrd and Sanders.

I voted for Cooney. Somebody has to stick up for the Irish, if nothing else other than the facts I stated above. 8)