Would Prime Lyle, Norton Or Young, Have Defeated Cooney?

Norton no, Lyle maybe, Ron was tough and could punch, but he was rather easy to hit, also I don't know why he came in at 211 in his fight with Cooney. Young I think would be a maybe as well, Jimmy could be masterful, or rather ordinary.

 

Norton - By the time he fought Cooney, Norton was a shadow of his former self, and after the Foreman knockout he never seemed to fully trust his chin against big punchers again. Against Foreman, he at least came in with a clear game plan and was reasonably successful in executing it until he was eventually stopped. We saw nothing resembling that against Cooney—or Shavers, for that matter. I don't see any compelling reason to think Cooney accomplishes what Foreman couldn't by stopping the better version of Norton any earlier so no 54 second KO in this one. Gun to my head, I'll take Norton.

Lyle– Tbh, I doubt it. Cooney's performances against Holmes, and even a faded Jimmy Young were beyond anything Lyle was ever capable of. Young comfortably shut Lyle out twice, whereas Cooney gave an even better fighter in Holmes a far more competitive fight and would've been ahead on two scorecards at one stage if not for the points deductions. I don't think it ends in the first round this time, but I still favor Cooney to wear him down and stop him eventually.

Young - I actually thought Cooney looked really good against Young. To me, he came across as a much better fighter than the lack of quality contenders on his résumé would suggest. I still think his jab would give Young problems, but at his best, Young was simply a higher-caliber fighter and has the styles advantage. I'd favor Young to win a competitive fight by a clear decision.

 

Young may have outpointed him,Lyle may have outslugged him,I think he always stops Norton.

 

Cooney had a great left hook and could throw it quickly in the early rounds - too much for Norton and I remember Quarry rocking Lyle in their fight and keeping Lyle at bay and respectful and careful after that, so I think he gets to them both before they get to him. Young would be problematic, but Gerry would not have to worry about Jimmys power so I think Cooney could eventually stop J.Y. - while Lyle could hit, he was not really an effective (the Quarry fight is a good gauge) Norton could survive and Ali and a Norton but anyone who could punch effectively would be beyond his tipping point resistance.

Cooney could also be fragile, and it did not always take a big heavyweight puncher. When Cooney fought Holmes, he never went passed 8 rds. and Spinks fought him smart and it took a few effective barrages to do it, but I have seen Gerry fight live many times in the amateurs and the pros and he could BANG to the body and head with his left hook - his right hand was good for holding a beer and setting up the hook and waving hello but G.C. was a one-sided left hook monster on the offence.

 

IMO prime Cooney wouldn't beat back-to-back-to-back prime Lyle, prime Norton, and prime Young (that would be a nice "run"). I don't know exactly where Cooney would be "stuck".
Prime Cooney did beat them, but all three were past primes.

 

I would still favor Cooney in each bout, just might not be the blow outs he achieved against the versions he faced.

 

Ron and Jimmy, yes, Ken, no.

 

Young had plenty left in him when he fought Cooney. He was only about 32 with 37 pro fights. After Cooney he went on to go the distance with Page, Tubbs and Tucker. I think Cooney beats him on any day.

Lyle is hard to predict, he was very inconsistent. He could certainly hurt Gerry. I'd likely favor Cooney as the better overall boxer.

Norton left whatever he had in the tank in the Holmes fight. He was completely shot after that. A prime Norton is still susceptible to big punchers though. Gerry could punch but he could also box and use his range. I find it difficult to favor Norton on this one. Gerry by UD.