Cooney takes on Shavers instead of Norton. Good or bad decision?

Gerry wins in the first. Shavers was finished at that point.

 

Cooney in 2 rounds.

 

Cooney early KO. As others have already highlighted, Shavers was past it at that point.

 

Good

And the only reason I say this is because by May '81, when Cooney/Norton took place, Shavers had lost to Mercado and Cobb.

But, the Whacko Twins were very smart. Even though, Shavers was badly faded, he would have still had a puncher's chance. Norton, on the other hand, had always frozen against big punchers and was equally faded, so they wisely chose him as the opponent.

They were so safety conscious, they wouldn't risk Cooney against even a faded Shavers.

But, I think by May '81, Cooney could have taken Shavers.

 

Prime for prime, though I think Shavers would take out Cooney

 

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Shavers at the time of May 81 had being tko in 3 of his last 5 fights. Shavers
even though he still had his punch his force as a top ten fighter was over.
Even though he fought for few years after this period he was starting to
resemble Cooney previous victims Young , Lyle.
Cooney at this stage too hungry for Shavers. Cooney ko 1.

 

Lyle was a big puncher like Shavers but he hardly got the chance to land a punch as Cooney just overwhelmed him and busted his ribs. The Same would have happened to Shavers.

 

Hard to reach Cooney from a wheelchair. Lyle was shot. It would be a different fight at his peak.

 

Earnie was a washed up guy at that time getting by on his name. Poor form. So, of course he has the credentials to get a fight. Earnie dips to launch and then rises up to punch. When he dips Gerry catches him with the left & it's all over.

What they were not going to do was take on a Page. Witherspoon. Mike Dokes. If not an Earnie caliber guy instead of Norton, we would have seen other non threats---Ledoux. Out of retirement Bobick.

The Snipes camp--just who would avoid that guy---wanted a Cooney match between the 2 NYC area guys & it sells great at Madison Square. But that bout never got made.

 

Saad's right; they hand picked Gerry's opponents in his 'rise'. All faded former contenders. Shavers hit harder than Lyle. that's why I bet $500 big ones on Larry in their scrap; only won about 375 as Larry was the clear favorite... duh!!! Lastly, after a pretty darn good show against Holmes, this wannabe took two frigging years off before stepping into the ring again??? If he had anything under that left t I t he would have been back in action six months later? IMO he's simply a blip on the HW radar screen. $0.02

 

Cooney was like Primo Carnera, all body but no jaw. If little Mike Spinks floored him imagine Shavers landing one!