Ronald Reagan promised to ring Cooney if he beat Holmes

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by kieranmarciano, Jan 15, 2012.


  1. kieranmarciano

    kieranmarciano Member Full Member

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    But never rang Holmes to congratulate Holmes' tough fought victory?

    seem like there's a racist undertone to that story I've just read. :deal
     
  2. jack365

    jack365 Member Full Member

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    Proof of the story, please? And provide proof of its racism.
     
  3. Garrus

    Garrus Big Boss 1935-2014 Full Member

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  4. kieranmarciano

    kieranmarciano Member Full Member

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    "Holmes vs. Cooney broke many Las Vegas records, including for attendance at a Las Vegas fight and money wagered, both at the sportsbooks and tables. Many celebrities of the day were in attendance. It was also reported that United States President Ronald Reagan had promised to call Gerry Cooney in his dressing room if he won the fight."

    Cooney was labelled as the "great white hope" as you all know. He was hoping to defeat Holmes and Don King played on the racial undertones to great economic success. If Reagan wanted to congratulate the winner and had an interest in this fight why did he only single out Cooney and only promise Cooney a phone call? I dunno how authentic or true this story is, but I just find it bemusing that he was only going to congratulate the white fighter if he beat Holmes considering how hyped up this fight was as having something to do with race.



    http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Human:2463

    http://frontpagemag.com/2011/02/09/ronald-reagan-the-100-year-old-racist/
     
  5. hussleman

    hussleman Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hmmm I also heard about that on Legendary Fights. It was rumored by several sources.
     
  6. blacktopbully

    blacktopbully Boxing Addict banned

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    i think he actually had a line in his dressing room that was hooked right to DC
    and in fact ronald did call him before the fight
     
  7. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Reagan was Irish, as Cooney was. I think that had something to due with the planned call. No such plans were made to congratulate any of Holmes title opponents in his other fights while Reagan was in office.
     
  8. jack365

    jack365 Member Full Member

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    "It was also reported that United States President Ronald Reagan had promised to call Gerry Cooney in his dressing room if he won the fight"

    The quote is from boxrec. This is not proof. This is a 3rd rate account from a media organization years after the event. I asked you to provide proof.

    The Irish angle I was going to suggest. But again we need actual proof that Reagan intended to call Cooney.
     
  9. jack365

    jack365 Member Full Member

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    "Rumoured" and "reported" usually means it is myth.
     
  10. slip&counter

    slip&counter Gimme some X's and O's Full Member

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    The race angle was the only thing that made the fight so big unfortunately. Both sides stoked it up shamefully (not the fighters themselvs though, they respected eachother) those two goons behind Cooney and DK were the main protagonists.
     
  11. jack365

    jack365 Member Full Member

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    And a story "leaked" to the press claiming a planned victory call from Reagan would play up this card well.

    Im not saying there was no plans for a victory call, I have my doubts though.
     
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    All whites, especially males in power, are racist to the bone. So... do the math.
     
  13. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lucky then evolution shows we probably all evolved from Black Africans...

    In other words, our bones show we are all probably 'Black', to one degree or another.

    Perhaps that shows you the ridiculousness of comparing and contrasting our-selfs in terms of 'race'.
     
  14. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Well, Reagan WAS a republican. They are all virulent racists.
     
  15. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I am no Republican, but it should be noted for years Reagan was a staunch Democrat...