Cleveland Williams vs Bert Cooper prime

Best for best I’d go with Cooper from 1990-1992. Cleveland had a larger window of prime where he’d beat Cooper but there was a short period where Bert was giving hell to a lot of the best men in the world and even beating some decent guys too

 

Williams ko 4.

 

Mercer version of Cooper is, I think, too durable for Williams and overcomes a rocky start to flatten him later. Bert was a freaking beast in that fight, probably his Buster Douglas moment.

 

I don’t know if there’s much between them, similar tier of fighter but I’d lean towards Cooper, both could punch a bunch but Bert was just a bit better at everything that made Williams dangerous whilst also just being much more resilient and I think proven.

 

Why? - break it down friendo.

 

I think in real life Williams should probably be slightly favoured over Cooper. Bert was often lacklustre and turned up for a paycheck. But in his early career when he was hungry he was dangerous AF

 

???

 

Oh yes, that version of Cooper was a joy to watch. Knocking Holyfield in to the ropes, giving Mercer hell and scaring Moorer.

 

I think Williams wins but it's by no means certain. Cooper of the Mercer fight could perhaps pull off a ko win.

 

I was watching that fight on regular network tv and can remember it being interrupted by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

 

Mercer had his jaw broke early vs Cooper and had to fight a different kind of fight smothering Cooper so he couldn't get punching room. Cooper still lost pretty much every round to a guy who had a broken jaw for most of the fight.

Williams i do think is a tad overrated but i think before gunshot wounds he stops Cooper in a very good fight.