Gerry Cooney is an all time great

Was Cooney really that bad? He took Holmes to the thirteenth round.

 

I'd like to agree with you but he was never able to pass top level competition

 

Gerry Cooney definitely had ATG potential. While I can't blame his management for taking the lucrative title fight with Holmes, they really didn't develop him properly into the contender he could have been. I always go back to Ray Leonard's climb to the top as a great example of how to develop as a fighter. His opponents were carefully selected - different boxers with different styles, guys he figured to beat, but who could extend him somewhat and enable him to learn something new. By the time he got his title shot he was well-prepared. That was what Cooney needed. He could have gotten it after the Holmes fight for that matter, for while he lost he did make a decent showing against a prime Holmes. It is unfortunate that he didn't really achieve that potential, but I too am glad that he is doing well today.

 

Poor Gerry.. He came so close, so damn close!!!

 

Actually, that's not a bad achievement.
Course, it was all down hill from there on.

 

Hey Fergy, Poor Gerry Cooney ran out out Ancient Relic Fighters to abuse. Lol.

 

Larry Holmes did to Gerry Cooney what Muhammad Ali did to Floyd Patterson in 1965, he carried Cooney.

 

He was very marketable at the time for obvious reasons.

 

This content is protected

 

His management behaved like a Pimp would, Cooney was the Worker who made the money for them.

 

Lol think ur right, Richard.

 

He fought well against Holmes. On another night, against many other champions, he wins that title, IMO.

 

This content is protected

​

 

Marvis's performance vs Holmes showed how much he deserved that shot...