Gerry Cooney of 1980-81 vs Wlad Klitschko of today - what would happen?

Yeah I agree, Cooney in 81 coming off the destruction of Young, Lyle and Norton is the guy who gave Holmes 13 tough rounds. It is one time that Wlad wouldnt be the bigger, stronger and younger man. Holmes has some of the greatest recuperative powers of any champion as shown versus Shavers and Snipes in particular, Wlad would have to find some of those powers too for this one. As you said Wlad isnt as good as Holmes nor does he have the nasty streak or intimadatory mouth that Larry used before and during his fight with Gerry.

 

all them shots...
young and lyle would have beat cooney in their primes for sure

 

Look, I like Gerry Cooney but the ONLY reason he went 13 rounds with Holmes was because Holmes fought such a cautious and disciplined fight that would guarantee he was going to win. He wasn't going to slug it out with Cooney he used excellent movement, used his jab, threw the occasional right hand and parried Cooney's punches tied him up wash, rinse repeat and when he had Cooney tired he went for the kill.

Cooney was a 6 round or so fighter. That is it.

Had Holmes been more aggressive that fight would have went 6 rounds or so. That is it. Holmes fought a fight that 100% would guarantee him the win he has admitted such in interviews.

 

I give Cooney boy lotsa' credit for hanging in there in round 6 against Holmes in '82... Cooney was nailed and staggered very badly by "The Homer" in the sixth stanza....

Cooney was NOT really hurt by the 2nd round knockdown from Holmes... He was more so surprised...

Cooney ate serious Holmes leather in round 13....

I LOVE REVIEWING THIS FIGHT! Its in my ATG top-10 reviews....

MR.BILL

 

Two points id make

1, Wlad is the most cautious Heavyweight champ in a long, long time, So Cooney would definately go rounds with him
2, Wlad is not as good as 82 Holmes especially in the chin/recuperative dept.

 

Read the entire post, i never claimed they werent I was agreeing with choklab that Cooney prior to Holmes was a different fighter to the guy Holmes burdened with racial expectations and tormented mentally and scarred psychologically

 

Bill I have the ABC and HBO version of this fight on DVD and love watching it also that outdoor arena they built for the fight was ****ing awesome.

 

The whole build-up and event proved awesome....... I was rooting for Holmes all the way.......... I knew he was great in 1982..... I also knew Cooney would be dangerous but out-classed in the skill dept...

I was just finishing my freshman year in high school....

MR.BILL:hat

 

Both good points too. Another good point is how vulnerable glass jawed WALDO is to the left hook....Cooney isn't the average WALDO midget/over the hill opponent and has the southpaw awkwardness on his side as well that WALDO can't cope with.

Could go either way for me, and I don't think WALDO would pick up rounds as easy as his fan boys seem to think, it could go down to the wire.

 

Cooney wasn't a Southpaw. :roflatsch

 

Cooney was converted to orthodox...... That is why his right hand was a wee bit on the gay side..... Cooney, like most converted fighters, relied too much on his left.....

MR.BILL

 

Steward trained Wlad tears apart Cooney. No contest. Cooney could never command a fight he didn't win outright and a Steward trained Waldo knows enough to stuff Cooney's one great weapon. And regarding Waldo's chin, it is certainly shaky but he only goes down not out. He gets up and continues to fight.

 

I wouldnt say the Stewart Wlad "tears" anyone apart, he is overly cautious and takes few risks. If Cooney is given opportunities and drops Wlad itll take more than anything ive seen from Wlad to get up and continue to fight effectively, remember Cooney matches Wlad in height and reach and in my opinion leading into the Holmes fight would beat the guys Wlad has fought in the last five years when they have fought Wlad.