Could Gerry Cooney’s Comeback Have Been Successful?

He had a few months clean before Foreman.

 

that was my point.

 

Random thought — why did Cooney and Holmes not have a rematch around this time? You’d think it would be pretty marketable.

 

Was agreeing with you Barrf.

 

It probably would have been.
I think it was more Cooney that cocked it up, not getting back in to fighting regularly.
He had a lot of crap going on in his head too, self doubts.

 

Gerry had a great left hook and all that but he was not a great fighter. He could have fought on after Larry and maybe fought Dokes or Weaver and won a title, but even there I think had he had to go a few rounds on he would have lost. I was surprised when Spinks knocked him out in 5.. Regardless of being off so long he should have done better against a smaller fighter if he was at that level. He was outclassed.

 

now to add to my last post had Gerry fought on after Larry and developed more skills and worked his jab more since he had decent handspeed and a good enough jab he could have done well since heavies at that time he could have beaten some of them like Weaver or Dokes. He just did not have the will like a great fighter has to comeback and win. Look at Thomas Hearns. He came back after the first Ray fight and fought just 3 months later against Singletary and had numerous title fights for many many years... He got better and improved. Not to compare Gerry to a real great in Hearns, but it is an example of what Gerry did not do.

 

When you look at Cooney taking the Foreman fight remember his claim to fame was knocking out older Norton, Lyle and Jimmy Young. Fighting Foreman was a chance to build on that reputation. In theory it was the perfect fight to get Cooney back in the mix.

Cooney could have kept fighting. That didn't have to be the end of his comeback.

 

He didn't knock out Young and, no, it was a cash grab for a retired fighter.

 

With the good talent , but lack of dedication heavies of the
early 80's? Cooney could've easily won a least a portion of
a heavyweight championship , defended it against a few
lower tier contenders, made a TON of money because
of his "Great white hope" status , retired , and some
on this very site would be arguing he was the greatest
heavyweight in history.
Cooney had good skills, Great size and power,
but his lack of will power (A prerequisite for greatness)
is the reason he is seen as nothing more than a footnote
in boxing history.

 

The Cooney that fought Spinks was possibly the most ill prepared challenger I have ever seen. If ever a fighter needed a different trainer it was Cooney preparing for Spinks. Victor Valle almost got Cooney killed.