What if Gerry Cooney had somehow gotten lucky against Spinks?

[mr. magoo]

Let's pretend for a moment that Gerry Cooney actually showed up in great shape for the Michael Spinks fight in 1987. Of course, even a top form Cooney probably wouldn't have won, but let's say he landed a big shot and somehow managed to pull off a big win..

What do you think his next step would have been?

- would Mike Tyson have been his next fight, and do you think Cooney would go for it.

- Would he pull another disapearing act for several years, as he often tended to do.

- Would he have fought someone else in the interim, perhaps Biggs or Tucker, or maybe an obscure journeyman?

- Would he have permanantely called it quits?

[Bill1234]

He probably would have gone for the big money fight with Tyson and get beat up, disapear for a while, then have the fight with Foreman, and stay retired.

[mr. magoo]

Originally Posted by Bill1234

He probably would have gone for the big money fight with Tyson and get beat up, disapear for a while, then have the fight with Foreman, and stay retired.

A likely scenario.

The kind of purse that a Tyson fight would bring, would be just too tempting to pass up for anyone, even Cooney who probably would have been scared shitless.

[janitor]

Given his life circumstances at the time I think that he would have been either an inactive champion or one who fought verry weak opposition.

He might have gone on like this for a few years and it would not so much have been a matter of who beat him as which of the top fighters got him into the ring first.

When he did take one of them on he would have been cashing out and so the fight would have gone to whoever could have put up the most generous terms.

I have just talked myself into being gratefull that it didnt happen.

[mr. magoo]

Originally Posted by janitor

Given his life circumstances at the time I think that he would have been either an inactive champion or one who fought verry weak opposition.

He might have gone on like this for a few years and it would not so much have been a matter of who beat him as which of the top fighters got him into the ring first.

When he did take one of them on he would have been cashing out and so the fight would have gone to whoever could have put up the most generous terms.

I have just talked myself into being gratefull that it didnt happen.

Technically, Cooney wouldn't have been the OFFICIAL champ, but the ring magazine and perhaps several other bodies might recognized him as having lineal status. My guess, is that the fans would have demanded a match between he and Tyson, probably following Tyson's unification with Tucker. Such a bout likely would have been scheduled for sometime in either spring or summer of 1988, and would have probably been one of ( if not thee ) most hyped fights of all time. Both Tyson and Cooney would have made as much or more money than the two combatants in Tyson vs Spinks. How would it have gone? Well, I think we can all agree that it would have been a very short night. I do however think that a well trained and motivated Cooney ( if that's what we got ), would at least last longer than 91 seconds.

[Rubber Warrior]

Originally Posted by Bill1234

He probably would have gone for the big money fight with Tyson and get beat up, disapear for a while, then have the fight with Foreman, and stay retired.

This is my guess as well.

[Rubber Warrior]

Originally Posted by janitor

Given his life circumstances at the time I think that he would have been either an inactive champion or one who fought verry weak opposition.

He might have gone on like this for a few years and it would not so much have been a matter of who beat him as which of the top fighters got him into the ring first.

When he did take one of them on he would have been cashing out and so the fight would have gone to whoever could have put up the most generous terms.

I have just talked myself into being gratefull that it didnt happen.

Your scenario might very well serve as the template for David Haye should he ever win a title. In fact, I believe Haye would play FAR more games than many anticipate.

[janitor]

Originally Posted by Rubber Warrior

Your scenario might very well serve as the template for David Haye should he ever win a title. In fact, I believe Haye would play FAR more games than many anticipate.

It will be interesting to wait and see.

David Haye has ran at the spikes on the ramparts so far.

At cruiserweight he would have fought a Trex that could have made the weight.

[Rico Spadafora]

Cooney looked horrible against Spinks.

If he would have won he would have been inactive, disappeared for a while then would schedule a fight and pull out with an 'injury'.

His career was HORRIBLY managed.

[kenmore]

Originally Posted by Bill1234

He probably would have gone for the big money fight with Tyson and get beat up, disapear for a while, then have the fight with Foreman, and stay retired.

Agreed. Had Cooney beaten Spinks, the demand for a Cooney-Tyson showdown would have been overwhelming. Cooney would have fought Tyson in 1988 and been knocked out. Cooney's purse for this fight would probably be even bigger than what he earned against Holmes in 1982.

[mochabuzz]

Originally Posted by kenmore

Agreed. Had Cooney beaten Spinks, the demand for a Cooney-Tyson showdown would have been overwhelming. Cooney would have fought Tyson in 1988 and been knocked out. Cooney's purse for this fight would probably be even bigger than what he earned against Holmes in 1982.

Its funny to think about how this would be such a huge fight... b/c hindsight has shown cooney to be such a chump... but had he figured out a way to beat Spinks in 1987, he would have faced Tyson is 1988. Somebody mentioned earlier that even a faded and out of shape Cooney would probably have been able to last longer than 91 seconds... & I agree with that statement.

[GazOC]

IMHO Cooney would have either stayed inactive or milked the title with a couple of easy defences before maybe being 'forced' into a Tyson fight 18 months or so down the line.

[zadfrak]

That was a real bad cut Spinks had in the 4th round. An opportunist would've got him out of there on a tko. Cooney didn't and lost instead. No matter. Both guys had a style made to order for a young Tyson and Cooney isn't seeing the end of the 2nd round.

[JohnThomas1]

Originally Posted by Rico Spadafora

His career was HORRIBLY managed.

Yes and no. Brilliant in that he got his $10 000 000 payday with not much risk. Bad in that he never learnt his craft as he should have.

Post Holmes tho i don't give Cooney a get out of jail card. Motivation must come from within, and he capitulated. Showed zero heart and determination in getting over a loss.

[mr. magoo]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas1

Yes and no. Brilliant in that he got his $10 000 000 payday with not much risk. Bad in that he never learnt his craft as he should have.

Post Holmes tho i don't give Cooney a get out of jail card. Motivation must come from within, and he capitulated. Showed zero heart and determination in getting over a loss.

Exactly,

I don't blame his managment for his shortcummings.. If he felt that his people weren't doing him any service, then it was his obligation to get rid of them and hire someone else the way that so many other fighters have done. Cooney's inability to have a career post Holmes, was his own making and no one elses. He could have chosen to get his arse into the gym every day and stayed active, even against journeyman if that's what it took to keep him busy in between big fights. But instead, he took an extended vacation from boxing, during which time, was spent drinking, using, sleeping, spending...etc...