Jimmy Braddock vs Gerry Cooney

I guess that I would have to favor Braddock, since he prevailed against the highest level of opposition, and Cooney never quite did.

 

Cooney would be a novice compared to Jimmy.

 

Gerry way too big and blasts him out.

 

Braddock would outbox him with his spoiler style he developed as a mature HW.

 

Sometimes it's really that simple. Braddock was not an exceptionally skilled or speedy fighter.

 

A 225 pound Cooney beats a 191 pound Braddock, Braddock was a skilled practitioner but Cooney was a juggernaut when in full flow, his only professional losses were against World Heavyweight or ex World Heavyweight Champions

 

Who were his only professional wins against?

 

These facts make me favor Braddock:
1. Braddock beat three legitimate top ten contenders, leading to his victory over the heavyweight champ, Baer.
2. Cooney's best wins were over three washed up former contenders.
3. Braddock had much more experience than the protected Long Islander. Much more.
4. Braddock had a much better chin. Cooney's chin had a considerable amount of glass in it.
5. Braddock decked a prime Joe Louis. Cooney didn't even appear to stun Foreman, Spinks or Holmes at any time.
6. Apart from the washed up fighters already mentioned, Cooney's best win was over Eddie Gregg, not exactly a world beater.
7. In addition to wins over three contenders on the way to beating the champ, Braddock defeated Slattery and Farr, excellent fighters.
8. Braddock was a much more all around fighter than the one handed, one dimensional Cooney.
Braddock by decision or late stoppage.

 

Other Heavyweights including a ex WBC Heavyweight Champion as you are well aware.

 

I like Braddock's story as much as the next guy but the Cooney that fought Norton and Lyle was way too big, strong, fast starting and hard punching .. there is no parallel to the M. Spinks fight here .. Spinks was much, much faster than Braddock and Cooney was highly inactive at that point .. I see a big KO win for Gerry here ..

 

Sure.

My concern with Cooney, is that he never beat an opponent, who was currently ranked in the top ten by Ring Magazine.

That is the benchmark for a contender.

Yes he beat a few name fighters who were shot, but he never beat somebody like Mike weaver or Greg Page.

This makes me very reluctant to pick him over heavyweights who amassed a significant body of work.

 

So, if Cooney beat a 185 pound guy with 11 losses, 4 by stoppage, he would suddenly be considered seriously in this discussion?

 

It wouldn't hurt his case if that guy was ranked, say #10 by Ring Magazine!