Baer vs Cooney

That right hand that decked Carnera the 1st time would have been enough to finish off Cooney.

 

Height and reach advantages didn't help Primo Carnera too much, did it?

 

This isn't even close.
Baer is way faster.
Stronger
Way better puncher.
Better boxer.
Better footwork and ring IQ.
More grit and heart. (Assuming its peak Max)
More creativity and awareness.
Carnera was a class or two above Cooney, and Max smashed him to bits.

I like Cooney a lot, and is incredibly dangerous to even world class boxers not on their best game, but I think this is an unbalanced matchup, and Max wins in 2.

 

Carnera isn't Cooney. Baer has plenty of losses littered across his career and many are to lesser men than Cooney. Baer is extremely hittable and one thing Cooney can do is hit.

I've argued as you do that Cooney never actually beat anyone of real substance. I've also added however that i think he was a genuine talent and if nurtured properly may have had a much more notable career.

It's Cooney early or Baer later for me. Baer would be favourite but i for one wouldn't be writing off Cooney's chances as practically zero like some in here are doing. He's a fast starting massive puncher with a ramrod jab and scary body attack.

I can understand many picking Baer but not their complete dismissal of Cooney.

 

We're talking prime Max Baer, not the version that lost to other guys. Baer wasn't protected throughout his career and fed a diet of washed up old men like Cooney was. Baer destroyed Max Schmeling...an accomplishment that overshadows any of Cooney's victories...for who did Gerry ever beat who was worth a damn and not washed up? Dino Dennis? Hell Baer would have destroyed him as emphatically as Cooney did.

 

What period would you describe as Baer's prime? He had losses in 31 and losses in 35.

Having an accomplishment that overshadows any of Cooney's and not being fed a diet of washed up old men doesn't automatically give Baer the win and render Cooney as having zero chance. George Foreman anyone?

Baer would be a deserving favourite, but resumes don't 100% guarantee who prevails in the actual ring. Cooney is a monster puncher and Baer sure ain't without flaws. I have no problem with people picking Baer and being confident but to 100% write off Cooney belies what boxing is imo.

At any rate it would be a barn stormer while it lasted in my view.

 

Agree with this post 100%

 

Schmeling was a big name on Baers record, but Schmeling would nowadays be fighting in the Cruiserweight division, and not even at the upper weight limit of that division.

Schmeling weighed around 193 and stood under 6'1 wheras Cooney was 230+ pounds, and was around 6'6

Cooney is oft remembered for his losses, but as previously mentioned his loss to Holmes was after a 13 month lay off, not ideal fight prep at all, and it still took Holmes 13 rounds to get the stoppage.

It is evolution, the beasts are getting bigger.

I guess the most recent smaller guy being successful in Heavyweight title fight would be Roy Jones Jnr when he beat Ruiz, in fact weighing exactly 193 pounds, so not unheard of in modern times, but still say Cooney beats Mr Baer

 

LMAO - no excuse? Cooney had seen one round of boxing in the previous three years and showed up in abysmal shape against the undefeated linear champion and ATG. I mean fvck that version of Spinks was likely better than any fighter Baer ever fought period given that Louis had been a pro for all but a year when he totally kicked the living crap out of him. So what was Baer's "excuse" for getting schooled by a former light heavyweight who had lost 25 of his professional fights or getting utterly destroyed by a prospect who had been a pro for a year? Do you think Braddock would beat Cooney? Would you put money at that one? I'll tell you that I would certainly place a wager on Spinks beating Baer and it wouldn't have to take Max three years of inactivity and a tire around his waste for me to make that bet...

 

Cooney would go out like Primo Carnera , without the chin

 

Down 11 times against Baer, what chin are you referring to? Or are you saying that because Baer couldn't finish him off despite knocking him down 11, that is testimony to what a superior chin Carnera had compared to Cooney?

Maybe it also makes you think why Baer with his revered one punch KO power couldn't put him away despite so many clean knockdowns?

 

Holmes had no trouble landing his right on Cooney,Baer would do like wise and spark him out.

 

Baer had a top chin.Cooney held his head up like a lamp post. Gerry gets sparked here.

 

Have you even watched the fight?
Baer hit him with shockwave haymakers that made his body fly in all sorts of directions.
You can clearly see in slow motion the power in the punches as they tear through Primo.
He did have a great chin.

This shouldn't be up for debate, it's a silly point. Like saying Mayweather didn't have quick footwork or something.

 

How many stopped Braddock?