1970 Joe Frazier vs 1980 Gerry Cooney

I can't see Cooney lasting beyond the 3rd round to be honest.

 

He might put up a good fight while it lasts though.

 

It's not a reflection of his quality compared to other Frazier opponents. Just a styles thing. Frazier would drag him into an early war, and he'd wilt in 2 or 3 rounds, I think.

 

Cooney could not keep Joe off of him. Inside it's all Frazier. Cooney had a great hook but that's it. His jab Joe would slip and there is no fear of a right hand from Gerry which would be a weapon vs Joe. In a battle of hooks Joe will win as his hook was shorter and would be thrown at mid and close distance. Gerry was not very strong physically nor very durable so in short order Cooney is beaten down and stopped. Frazier KO 6 in a fight that competitive the first six minutes and then turns into a massacre.

 

I believe Frazier can take a Cooney hook at not completely fall apart. Cooney could not take Joes hook and not go down in sections.

 

It absolutely favours Frazier.

Long range torture is everyone's weakness. But I don't credit Cooney with the kind of durability that would need Frazier to beat him like that.

Frazier hit harder than Holmes, and Holmes had Cooney on the deck as early as the 2nd round. Holmes backed off and fought a long distance strategy.
The fact that Cooney was most dangerous early would mean he's going to be easier to drag into an early war.

It's worth remembering Frazier hit Foreman solidly early on and was bringing the pressure but the punches had no effect on Foreman.
Foreman simply used his great strength to push Frazier off and tee off on him.
Put Cooney in Foreman's place he'd probably be getting beaten up from the opening bell.

 

Thing to remember is we are talking Joe at his best. There is no chance that Cooney beats the Frazier who beat Ali in 71. Gerry just does not have the physical strength nor the durability. Joe would steamroll him.

 

It would look similar to the Manuel Ramos fight.
Cooney might wobble or even floor Frazier but Frazier would just keep coming and Cooney couldn't survive long.

 

no, conney was not 25 pounds heavier than frazier, COONEY NEVER EVER WEIGHED 230 POUNDS IN HIS PRIME, HE WEIGHED 230 IN his 4 last fights when he was shot.
in fact he started his career at 208 pounds in 6'6 of height, skinny like hell.
his prime weight was 224-225 pounds , even if you take the 205 pounds version of frazier, you could not make the 25 pounds of difference that you mentioned, in order to make this difference you have to pick a young frazier and the shot cooney, ridiculous. THE HEAVIEST PEAK FRAZIER WEIGHED 210 POUNDS( ON BOXREC IT IS 209 BUT On THE TALE OF THE TAPES OF THE FIGHT FIGURE 210, CHECK THE PICK THAT I POSTED). the heaviest prime cooney weighed 225 pounds.
15 pounds of diference.period

 

Frazier at his best was 200-205. Cooney at his best 220-225. Weight would mean nothing in this bout as Joe was the stronger of the two physically.