Gerry Cooney vs the Heavyweight champs.

sometimes I think he would have had less publicity but maybe fighting someone like Dokes or Weaver would have worked better for him to win a belt. Then get some seasoning and then fight Holmes.

 

Cooney has a punchers chance against just about anyone and was a pretty good fighter in his prime. I'd favor most heavyweight champions against him but I'd favor him over a few. I like Cooney in match ups against Mike Weaver, Floyd Patterson, Leon Spinks, Jimmy Ellis, Shannon Briggs, Trevor Berbick,John Ruiz and Bonecrusher Smith. I'm about 50/50 on him against, Bruno, McCall, Greg Page, Ingemar Johnasson. I know I'll take some heat for this but I could see him even upsetting Marciano. Don't get me wrong I'd favor the The Rock against a prime Cooney but with his come forward style and not the greatest defense in the world along with Cooney have a major size advantage and an extremely powerful punch I could see him devastating Marciano early with some vicious left handed power punches though obviously I'd still favor The Rock to find a way to weather the storm in the early rounds and eventually break down the big man I think Cooney would have decent chance of scoring an early knock out. :deal

 

Its not unreasonable to think that Gerry Cooney could have given Rocky Marciano trouble. This is a sport where having a higher rating and more prestige doesn't always guarantee victory, especially when matching fighters from two totally different eras. If placed in the same ring, you'd have one man with a good 8 inches in height and 40 lbs in weight over the other. Stylistically Cooney's left hook and upper cut was well positioned to land on a crouching come forward fighter and had a ton of power behind it as well. Rocky would have difficulty hitting Cooney flush on the face and some of the power behind those punches would be diminished on the way up from having to extend so much. Rocky would have to work the body and smother Cooney until he wears out late in order to land some bombs on the chin. Could he do it? Sure. But he'd have to work his ass off for many rounds as the smaller man to make it happen while taking some huge painful shots along the way, perhaps even having to pick himself up off the canvas more than once.. I might be inclined to keeping him away from Cooney.

 

Oh I know- styles make fights. The way you describe it is exactly what I was thinking. I give Cooney a good punchers chance against anyone he had a substantial size advantage on and who'd come to him aside from Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson. It is possible Cooney could Foreman Frazier but I strongly doubt it as a matter I fact I see Frazier more likely stopping Cooney early. Same goes for Tyson I think in his prime he'd be able to avoid Cooney's big punches for the most part and put some serious hurt on Cooney.

 

Cooney didn't get close to his potential. Would have been interesting to have seen what would have happened had he went with Cus D'Amato as he originally intended instead of Victor Valle (who D'Amato recommended after the Wacko Twins told him he could only be the trainer and not the manager as D'Amato wanted to be both)

He should have also waited and fought Weaver before Holmes it was a winnable fight as Weaver was a very slow starter and he would have gained some much needed experience. He fought Holmes way too soon should have waited until late '83 or '84 and got the much needed rounds.

 

It all depends on styles. Holmes was just too slick and motivated. I don't hold much against Gerry for the Holmes or Foreman losses, but the Spinks one makes me wonder. Michael was magnificent that night, to be fair, but the fact that someone his size could bomb out Gerry doesn't make Cooney look to favorable. But I could see him blowing out a lot of guys. Regarding Patterson, though he had more heavyweight fights, I think Spinks was the naturally bigger man. I think Cooney could probably beat Patterson simply due to sheer size (40 pounds and 5 inches advantage), but I may be wrong.

 

the best, probably people like Patterson who he'd sending kicking, and Frazier in a battle of two hookers. I dont see Joe lasting too long as Gery "get's to him" within the first three rounds, then finishes him soon after. Uppercuts, and hooks bring Joe to a halt then put him down for good.

 

I don't think Cooney would have beaten any of them.

 

I will phrase it slightly differently.

There is not reason to think that he would have beaten any of them, unless he was better than the available evidence suggests.

 

the problem with Gerry is did you know when he fought Holmes he had about 88 rounds experience? he retired with 113 total rounds? He was inexperienced always. He never developed his skills and didn't put in the needed fights to get better. How would he beat an experienced Spinks?

 

He most likely wouldn't. But I'd prefer to see the Gerry Cooney of 1979-1982 in there against him than the guy in 1987 who was answering the front door in his bathrobe just looking to accept a paycheck. Cooney was visibly out of condition in that fight. Had only seen maybe one round of boxing action in nearly 3 years. And was about as enthusiastic about getting in a boxing ring as most men are going to the proctologist.

 

he never fought. He never developed experienced and learned from experience. He thought his left hook would get him through everything. 113 total rounds and people talk about him often. most top fighters have in the late 200 or into the 300 rounds

 

The evidence suggests that he was a fragile, one-handed fighter with poor training habits and problems with substance abuse.

 

are you crazy. O

 

he never had heart for the sport. You are dealing in hypotheticals that he would back out of. His record and history prove it. But maybe if you keep hoping, historical revisionists will succeed and someday his will stand as mighty fearless man-tiger gerry cooney; conqueror of all men in ring wars