1962 Sonny Liston vs 1982 Gerry Cooney, 15 Rounds.

Yeah, but George also said he was SCARED of Oscar De La Hoya.

Do you believe George when he says he dodged Quarry? At least we have evidence for that. Liston failing to put away Machen says a lot about his power and offense. (Hint: that it doesn't stack up to Cooney's). Cooney literally moved George with that punch. And I am still not sure that Cooney even knew where he was that night. Dude was a mess.

 

So then why not review the fighters before commenting? quack?

 

@QuacktheDuck

 

Sorry, don't recognize that character. We didn't have him in India.

 

NO, i don't.
Because it's obvious that he was exagerating here, jerry quarry was never Foreman's mandatory challenger when he was the champion and neither of them were ever put in a boxing tournament or something like that, George was never forced to fight Quarry. So i wouldn't call this a duck.

But when it comes to talk about the hardest puncher he has ever seen in his life, you should not be surprised at him picking Cleveland williams, gerry Cooney and ron Lyle.
Big George was not the only one who expressed the big cat's legendary power in awe.

 

Williams was a good guy. He hit hard, no doubt about it. But who was the best guy Williams knocked out?

 

Spud gun vs scatter gun

 

Liston within 3 rounds or so. Easy fight for Sonny. Probably doesn't look a whole lot different than the Foreman fight.

 

Maybe a couple of rounds longer, but yeah pretty much this.

 

Liston KO1

 

I’m going with the Champ here.

 

Sorry to go off topic, but he had millions waiting for him in the ring at MSG, he just had to meet Jerry Quarry there to collect it. Instead he opted to fight Roman in JPN for chump change.
How many rounds did he need to finally put away Peralta? Greg was finished by the rematch. And he struggled immensely with Ali and Young. I don't give Quarry Ali's chances, but I don't give him Peralta's chances, either. Somewhere in the middle - which is a hair better than Lyle's. Point is, it would be a BAD look for Foreman. Saddler probably knew they would be exposing a lot of flaws for the world to see, taking lustre off Foreman's fearsome countenance and providing future opponents angles to exploit.

It's like Mayweather's antics with Marquez at the weigh-ins; Maidana with the gloves; making Pac chase him around for years and talking about PED testing,; and demanding McGregor boil down to Junior Middleweight. Mayweather was never going to lose those fights, but the extra little hoops opponents had to jump through before crawling into bed with Madame Mayweather were to better ensure the preservation of her brand. You gotta wine and dine her before she gives it up. Even if she always gives it up.

Tunney also used to pick and chose fighters. Loughran never got a rematch. He passed on fighting Stribling when he secured a fight with Dempsey.

Point is, George had good reason to say he "ducked" Quarry, even if he didn't really duck him.

But with Williams, I think he was just trying to put respect on that man's name, since life had played out so horribly for him. Honestly, I suspect George, a very intelligent and holy man, was having a hard case of the "There, but for the grace of God, go I", when considering Williams.

Big Cat might've hit hard, but he wasn't the force of nature Cooney was.

 

Liston quickly dismantles Gerry in 2-3 rds. The first time Liston’s jab connects Cooney’s eyes will widen in instant concern. Just as well as Gerry’s chin will only allow for a short number of rounds lest he incur fractures and/or broken bones.

 

Cooney really has no advantages here. He's tall but didn't fight tall so he would give that advantage away. I wouldn't be surprised if Liston had a longer reach even at 6-2.

Cooney big weapon was his lefthook. The only problem is Sonny's left hand was better. That jab of Liston would take the fight out of Cooney each time it landed.
Unlike Cooney, Liston could box. He was a two handed threat. Experience would be a huge hurdle for Cooney as well. Ringpace, when and how to rest when he had to.
Cooney could have learned some of these things had his managers allowed him to fight a live body.
Anyway Sonny Liston by early knockout.

 

Cooney had potential but it takes more than ability. Being dedicated is a big part of the equation. Clancy was a good teacher but he wouldn't have been able to protect Gerry against himself. His substance abuse was the reason he quit fighting after facing adversity. That would have reared it's head eventually.

Just a note.
Gerry Is a good dude and he has found recovery and a new way to live. I'm not knocking him but in the 80s he was lost.