I have to take Ellis. He took a pretty good drubbing, and w/ Cooney he would only have to survive a few torrid rounds before he could take the fight back. Ellis TKO 10. Pretty good fight. Hard to tell how amazing it could or would be tho.
Ellis looked like a pretty slick boxer from the little I've seen of him, but i think Cooeny would score a quick and easy KO over him
Are we talking Cooney 1978-1986, 1982, 1987-1990? 1987-1990...maybe Ellis wins. 1979-1986, no Ellis is stopped in 9 or 10 and 1982 maybe Ellis is still on his feet in the 6th. Ellis is fighting at 6’1” 196 and a wing span of 76” and Cooney at 6’6” 225 and a wing span of 81”- I think Cooney wins if he wants to, he would have to put on the big boy shorts.
I don't know how Jimmy can win this one. Even if he tries to hit and hop, his hop wouldn't get him out of range. Cooney's going to land one of those booming left hooks within 4 rounds and that's that. Bad match up for Ellis.
Jimmy Ellis takes this one by a TKO 10. This would be a prime Ellis from 1968, Gerry Cooney would be fighting a young fighter with good lateral movement, a snappy left jab, and a sneaky potent right hand. Gerry would not be fighting a geriatric Ken Norton or an elderly Jimmy Young.
While Ellis was the more skilled fighter with better wins on the resume, I think Cooney’s physical advantages coupled with Jimmy’s shaky chin would result in a ( probable ) win for Cooney.
Neither was particularly bankable. Ellis did prove that he could beat a contender while both were in their primes, whereas w/ Cooney that remains 2 be seen. Ellis wasn't bullet-proof, so a knockout 4 Cooney isn't impossible. If it is a 10-rounder, a close decision could be in order 4 either man. Beyond that, Cooney would tire, and Ellis would win a rough, but not-too impressive decision.
