The style match-up favors Sanders. Sanders had faster hands, and that straight left that ko'd Wlad should be very evident. I think that Cooney looked game, resilient, and exibited a stamina superior to Sanders against Holmes. I think this fight would look a bit different, but have a similar ending to Sanders fight with Rahman. I think that Sanders would win most every round, only to be ko'd near the end of the middle rounds. Cooney ko round 8.
Cooney was strong with raw power, but Sanders has a better chin, as evidenced by his fight with Vitali. Cooney's chin was unimpressive, particularly against Spinks. It's ok to lose by ko to Holmes and Foreman, but a big heavyweight has no business getting ko'd by a lightheavy, even a great one like M. Spinks. Power-wise, they're about even, but Sanders is/was far more efficient in the delivery of his shots, with superior hand speed and shorter punches. I think he's land the firstest with the mostest and ko Cooney in 1 or 2. I also think that his countryman, Gerrie Coetzee was a better fighter, and would have ko'd Cooney as well.
Sanders KO 1, Cooney could not handle a super southpaw freak of nature that had better tools than him. Sanders does not lose, ever.
sander is unstoppable! :good Sanders TKO 2 klitschko :good he would have done the same to lennox too!
It's possible that Sanders may well have taken this one, however in all fairness, both men were fast starters. Additionally, I would say that both men had skills that were probably on an equal plain. Lastly, while Sanders had faster hands, Cooney had greater size and arguably strength, plus peaked at a much younger stage. Anyone could have won this match, but given Sanders tendency to lose to mediocre opposition, or perform badly even in a winning effort, I might be inclined to picking Cooney.
