How do you see this going? I could see Frank busting him up with the jab and out-muscling him, or Cooney storming out and stopping him early (though Frank usually needed to be worn down a bit before being stopped). What do you guys think?
Bruno's 5 losses were to those who had claims to the Heavyweight Championship. Bruno beats Cooney by decision, in a fight similar to his victory over Oliver McCall. 1995-09-02 : Oliver McCall 234¾ lbs lost to Frank Bruno 247¾ lbs by UD in round 12 of 12 Location: Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London, United Kingdom Referee: Tony Perez Judge: Ray Solis 111-117 Judge: Newton Campos 111-117 Judge: Malcolm Bulner 113-115 World Boxing Council Heavyweight Title (2nd defense by McCall) Fight Poster Notes There was a crowd of 23,000 at Wembley Stadium. This was Bruno's fourth attempt at winning a world title. WBA Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon knocked him out in 11 rounds in 1986, Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson stopped him in five rounds in 1989, and WBC Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis finished his fellow Brit in seven rounds in 1993. Bruno was the third British-born boxer to win a world title at heavyweight—the other two were Bob Fitzsimmons and Lennox Lewis—and he was the first to win it on British soil.
Tremendous bout between two HUGE, and really underrated, heavyweights. Throw in Razor Ruddock to the mix and we'll have one helluva round robin tournament!!!
Cooney v Bruno is a 50-50 fight. Both were fragile fighters with good power. Both were hyped way beyond their abilities. Both of them would beat Tommy Morrison though.
I like Frank, watched him since he turned pro (we are similar ages) and when he turned pro he was the heavyweight hope that Britain had always yearned for, he looked the part and had the physical gifts that you usually associate with a possible future heavyweight champion. The UK media went into a massive overdrive with Frank. At their respective bests I favour Cooney, with caveats. If Cooney had the confidence he showed against Lyle & Norton (I know they were washed up) and came out blasting, I think he probably takes Frank out (see the Cummings fight & both Tyson fights). I know that Tyson is Tyson & that the Cummings fight was a (relatively) early career fight for Bruno, but the blueprint is there and Cooney was quite capable of coming out early with a blitzkrieg attack and finishing most HWs off. However, if Cooney came in more cautiously as he did against Holmes, Bruno could possibly establish his jab, get into a rythym and kayo Cooney himself. Would Cooney have the confidence to come out against Bruno the way he did Lyle & Norton? That's the big question for me. One thing I am pretty sure of is that unless a major title & big dough was on offer, there's no way Terry Lawless would have taken a prime Cooney as a match for Bruno.
Cooney by tko or ko. Frank is going to get hit by that left hook. Cooney had enough left to expose the Bruno lack of defense and china chin. I think this ends pretty early, so Frank's lack of stamina would not be used as an excuse for the loss, as it was when Bonecrusher wrecked him in the 10th round in '84.
Good 50-50 fight. There's going to be a stoppage and I take Gerry's big lefts to have the final say if he was sharp and confident on the night.
I really can see Cooney pulling off a Shock early win here .Catching Bruno as both men come out and hurting him .If that's the case ,thrn Franks in dire trouble .Cooney was a savage finisher and Bruno s going to need everything hes got ,to get through the round. If Cooney come s out ,Jabbing his way in ,then it could be the other way round and Gerry's the one in trouble early . Either way ,this fight s not getting past 6 round !!
I like Bruno to pop his jab and land a right. But Cooney could very well just land a few lefts and take Bruno out