Baer's best win might have been Tony Galento, a guy who might have had less skill than Baer. Baer never beat anybody who could have survived with old Norton, Lyle, or Young, and all of them (even when they fought Cooney) were better than Baer. Baer might be the 4th best heavyweight from Omaha, Ne., behind in no particular order, Ron Stander, Morris Jackson, and Dickie Ryan. How can anybody watch video of the unskilled Baer and think he could beat anybody with a decent amateur background and decent skills? Baer wouldn't last 20 seconds with Gerry Cooney.
Not sure how you would argue that one! Was Tony Galento better than Max Schmeling for example? Either way, Tony Galento was ranked at the time of the fight, which would actually have made him the best win on Cooney's resume! Norton, Lyle and Young had all dropped out of the top ten when Cooney beat them. They were name fighters, but they were no longer serious players in the division. Cooney needed to beat somebody like Berbick, or Weaver, or Page, or Coetze, to prove that he was the real deal! He beat the best heavyweights of his era, and it was an era with quite a lot of good technicians! His style might have been ugly, but it obviously worked, and he kept proving it time and again, while Cooney lost every time he stepped up!
Because he hit like a ****ing freight train and showed more chin against Louis than Cooney did in his career
Thta's bul****, Nortton was comimg off of victory over Radall Cobb, so was Eddie Gregg, in 1981 Jimmy young was voted the comeback fighter of the year as well. Lets face it in the late 70's ealy 80's the heavywqeight division was quite thin. You can't blame Cooney for that.
Dunno about the durability comparison but I’m sure that there ain’t no way in hell that Carnera would’ve got up 10 times if Cooney have caught him flush and put him down.
If he can get up from Baer and Louis, he can get up from Cooney But either way there's no way in hell Cooney gets up 10 times from Baer
I doubt Cooney (or anyone) has the power to put Max down 10 times in 12 rounds, his chin in top draw, leagues ahead of Cooneys
It’s what I’ve been saying. No one gets up 10 times against Cooney. Once is often enough. Say what you like about Cooney’s level of opposition but he was a ruthless bas tar d of a finisher when he had someone down or in big trouble. Norton was out on his feet helpless but Cooney didn’t care, he still carried on swinging away like their was no tomorrow. He certainly weren’t no gentlemen Gerry when it came to finishing someone off.
This. Cooney doesn’t have what it takes to bring Max Baer down. Cooney’s left hook wouldn’t be enough.
Where did Ring Magazine rank these men when Cooney beat them? We can't blame Cooney for the division being thin, but we can blame him for not beating a single ranked contender! That then becomes worse in light of the division being thin!
