If Gerry Cooney had beaten spinks

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Dec 23, 2021.



  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Let’s say he knocks out spinks. Then never fights again and leaves the sport with a 29-1-0-25 record. Where would you rate him ?
     
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  2. TipNom

    TipNom Active Member Full Member

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    Not particularly highly. His best wins would be over older guys and a light heavyweight.
     
  3. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    About the same as Coetzee.
     
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  4. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    A little below where most people rank Ingo, but above the other Spinks.
     
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  5. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He’d certainly be a unique former lineal champion. Jeffries, Louis, Marciano, Ali, and Lewis gave up their titles and retired after several title defenses. I guess the closest comparison is Gene Tunney.

    If this had happened, I’d probably put Cooney in the high teens in a greatest heavyweights list (that’s ballpark. I have no such list.)
     
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  6. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Even though he would have won the title in this scenario, I would still rank him below Coetzee.
     
  7. ronnyrains

    ronnyrains Active Member Full Member

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    just above Jean Pierre Coopmans
     
  8. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    I disagree, but that's an interesting pick.
     
  9. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Another thing to consider: If Cooney beats [EDIT: Spinks], people will look at Holmes-Cooney differently.

    They won't view it as a champion exposing a hype job anymore. It will become a changing-of-the-guard-that-wasn't between a young, raw future champion (mediocre champ, sure, but not terrible) and Larry Holmes. They might also point out Cooney's solid performance on points at the time of the stoppage. Rather like Klitschko/Lewis.

    Both men's legacies will improve. When people rhetorically ask who Holmes beat, people will respond with Cooney. Holmes will get the "beat a prime lineal champ" achievement pin that helped the 70s guys so much.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2022
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  10. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not much.. He had a great left hook but he never really proved it against top guys, and beating Spinks at that point would not have elevated him too much.. Beating Tyson? That would have helped.. Even some wins over Dokes or Bonecrusher, but I am afraid Bonecrusher would have knocked him out.
     
  11. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I think beating a linear champion and ATG would have been a lot better than getting is butt handed to him the way he did
     
  12. Ali Holmes

    Ali Holmes Active Member banned Full Member

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    Interesting question. I don't know.
     
  13. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Bump for the interesting question.
     
  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    With a 29-1-0-25 record and a win over a linear champion with his only loss being to a top 3 great I think he’d look pretty good
     
  15. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I honestly without any reservations could agree that Gerry Cooney was a great fighter if he had beaten IBF Heavyweight champion Michael Spinks, because he had beaten a lineal legitimate champion that was in his fighting prime, and had also defeated Larry Holmes, something Cooney could not do in 1982.
     
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