BoxRec

A battle between two big so-called "white hopes" who both fell a bit short.

If Duane Bobick would have attempted a comeback in 1981 you probably would have had this matchup.

Cooney all the way. Let's face it, Bobick dematerialised when he hit the big times, while Cooney fought for the title twice. Also, Cooney only lost to HOF fighters, while Bobick lost to guys like George Chaplin.

Cooney by kayo fast and early.

Ditto. Cooney was usually a fast stater and bobick often started slow. Most importantly, Cooney for all of his faults was better than Bobick. Cooney by early ko.

IrishRufusMurphy wrote:Cooney all the way. Let's face it, Bobick dematerialised when he hit the big times, while Cooney fought for the title twice. Also, Cooney only lost to HOF fighters, while Bobick lost to guys like George Chaplin.

Cooney by kayo fast and early.

While I also would go with Cooney, let’s be realistic here. Cooney also “dematerialized” when he hit the big times as well. Who exactly did he beat besides 75 year old versions of Lyle, Norton and Young? In fact, I think the quality of Bobick’s resume may actually a bit better than Cooney’s.

Yeah, but Cooney also fought harder in defeat and unarguably had the hardest punch of the 1980's (before Tyson came on the scene). Cooney might have taken short cuts to the championship, but let's look at it another way: Do you see WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee beating Cooney, had Gerry opted to face him instead of Holmes?

I can't. Outside of Larry Holmes I can't see any fighter at that time being able to take Cooney out of there---and the Holmes/Cooney fight was close, if you take back the low blow deductions it was damn near even.

After the loss Cooney disappeared only to return, only to retire, only to fight Spinks when he was unranked, only to retire and then fight Foreman.

I don't hold it so much against Cooney that he 'failed', his losses after the Holmes fight were to HOF's and he had been inactive and still gave them guys a helluva time.

Bobick might have fought in a greater era, but the only guy in my mind that he ever beat that was noteworthy was Chuck Wepner and then he was demolished by Norton in 50 some odd seconds.

Bobick beat Scott Ladoex twice and although he was not great he was quite a bit better than Chuck Wepner.

IrishRufusMurphy wrote:Yeah, but Cooney also fought harder in defeat and unarguably had the hardest punch of the 1980's (before Tyson came on the scene). Cooney might have taken short cuts to the championship, but let's look at it another way: Do you see WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee beating Cooney, had Gerry opted to face him instead of Holmes?

I can't. Outside of Larry Holmes I can't see any fighter at that time being able to take Cooney out of there---and the Holmes/Cooney fight was close, if you take back the low blow deductions it was damn near even.

After the loss Cooney disappeared only to return, only to retire, only to fight Spinks when he was unranked, only to retire and then fight Foreman.

I don't hold it so much against Cooney that he 'failed', his losses after the Holmes fight were to HOF's and he had been inactive and still gave them guys a helluva time.

Bobick might have fought in a greater era, but the only guy in my mind that he ever beat that was noteworthy was Chuck Wepner and then he was demolished by Norton in 50 some odd seconds.

The Holmes fight might have been close on the scorecards but if you've actually seen it, you may have noticed Holmes giving him a sustained career-shortening beating.

Who knows if he would have beaten Coetzee but it's certainly not a gimme. Coetzee has better wins on his resume than Cooney and, while he ran hot and cold, on his best night he had the skill to beat Cooney.

You really think he gave Foreman and Spinks 'a helluva time'? I must have been watching different fights.

Bobick.

You really think he gave Foreman and Spinks 'a helluva time'? I must have been watching different fights.

Yeah, George said after he knocked out Cooney that Cooney hit incredibly hard and he knew he was in major trouble if he didn't get rid of Cooney asap. And the Spinks fight was pretty close too, but Cooney was on drugs and been inactive for a while and it was inevitable that he'd lose.

IrishRufusMurphy wrote:

You really think he gave Foreman and Spinks 'a helluva time'? I must have been watching different fights.

And the Spinks fight was pretty close too, but Cooney was on drugs and been inactive for a while and it was inevitable that he'd lose.

Seems our ideas differ about what is a "close fight". Spinks put on a clinic.

I dont see Cooney having any problem with Bobick at all.I could see Gerry jumping on him and taking him right out of there.
Cooneys left hook to the body and head was devastating.
It took a top flight heavy to avoid or withstand that when he was on.
Gerrys problem was always confidence.
He was fed too many soft touches.
At some point he must have asked himself why his team was giving him so many easy fights.
Did they not have confidence in him?
I think for that reason he may have started doubting himself.

IrishRufusMurphy wrote:

You really think he gave Foreman and Spinks 'a helluva time'? I must have been watching different fights.

Yeah, George said after he knocked out Cooney that Cooney hit incredibly hard and he knew he was in major trouble if he didn't get rid of Cooney asap. And the Spinks fight was pretty close too, but Cooney was on drugs and been inactive for a while and it was inevitable that he'd lose.

I think you ought to actually watch the fights with someone who understands what they are seeing and can explain some basic things to you.

'ex-pug' are you in Rupert's area? Could you perhaps arrange an 'Understanding what is happening in a boxing ring' class for the young fellow?

expug wrote:I dont see Cooney having any problem with Bobick at all.I could see Gerry jumping on him and taking him right out of there.
Cooneys left hook to the body and head was devastating.
It took a top flight heavy to avoid or withstand that when he was on.
Gerrys problem was always confidence.
He was fed too many soft touches.
At some point he must have asked himself why his team was giving him so many easy fights.
Did they not have confidence in him?
I think for that reason he may have started doubting himself.

You make some good points. Personally, I think they ruined him as a boxer by feeding him the almost dead bodies of once great fighters and then threw him straight in with a peak Holmes who, regardless of the bullshit judges scores, drew his sting and then administered a beating that got painful to watch towards the end.

Still, he did get 10 million dollars for that fight, if I remember correctly.

Why do you call yourself "Irish" Rufus Murphy when you are an American from Ohio?

American fighters of Irish descent have always used the nickname "Irish".
Its a tradition, the green robe , the shamrock on the shorts, the fans dig it.
In the bigger cities Irish American fans were plentiful.
A good way to play to your base fans.

Cooney was a cut above Bobick. Gerry & quickly.

Well.I DISAGREE WITH THE MAJORITY of you,and believe as long as
Duane warmed up properly,and didn't come out cold, he would've
avoided any knockout blows and outmaneuvered Gerry to win by decision.

Cooney by first round knockout.

Duane Bobick was a pretty solid HW. Trouble is, he is best remembered for getting wiped out by Norton, and that Norton fight, along with the Tate fight, showed his biggest wekness.
Duanes problem was, that he never had any idea what to do when he got hurt. He would step straight back and put up his hands. No head movement and no counter punch.

For that reason and that reason only, Cooney probably wins by TKO in the early to middle rounds.

Cooney fast and early. Neither man had iron chins, but if Cooney's was made of glass, then Bobick's was an egg shell.

HomicideHenry wrote:Yeah, but Cooney also fought harder in defeat and unarguably had the hardest punch of the 1980's (before Tyson came on the scene). Cooney might have taken short cuts to the championship, but let's look at it another way: Do you see WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee beating Cooney, had Gerry opted to face him instead of Holmes?

I can't. Outside of Larry Holmes I can't see any fighter at that time being able to take Cooney out of there---and the Holmes/Cooney fight was close, if you take back the low blow deductions it was damn near even.

After the loss Cooney disappeared only to return, only to retire, only to fight Spinks when he was unranked, only to retire and then fight Foreman.

I don't hold it so much against Cooney that he 'failed', his losses after the Holmes fight were to HOF's and he had been inactive and still gave them guys a helluva time.

Bobick might have fought in a greater era, but the only guy in my mind that he ever beat that was noteworthy was Chuck Wepner and then he was demolished by Norton in 50 some odd seconds.

Cooney would stop Bobick in one round, too much power too early.And yes, I could see Coetzee beating Cooney. More sucess against top notch competition.

But Jerry Quarry, in his prime, beats the hell out of all of them!

You should start a Quarry versus Cooney mythical fight thread.