Was Fury of the first fight, who out boxed Wilder over twelve rounds, not an “accomplished heavyweight with limited skill”? He more than fit your description and got laid out by the right twice. Your statement is simply, objectively, wrong. That being said Wilder was a manufactured champion and Cooney would know to pressure him the same way he pressured Norton and Lyle who were big punchers. Honestly I could see the same result against Wilder depending on the night.. Cooney KO1.
Fury was hand picked (badly), he was no more than 70% fit, had numerous issues & been out of the ring for an age. The second fight proved this. Fury at 50% beats Wilder’s challengers. I’m not a TF fan by the way, just saying it as I saw it. I totally respect your view too.
1982 Cooney come out strong, uses the jab and has big rounds early. All this adds up and by the tenth Wilder has nothing left, I think Cooney KO 10.
That's the first time in my lifetime of following boxing I've ever seen Cooney praised for speed. There's a reason for that. Either could win here as neither are remotely great. Both have big power and are fragile in other area's. It might be as simple as who gets off first.
Once Wilder drops the boom hammer on Cooney its going to be curtains. . He won't win a round because he won't be attempting to win any of the rounds.. . People still do not understand what Wilder was all about and why he was so dangerous. A guy like Cooney isn't good enough to avoid getting clapped with that right hand. Too slow , too stiff.
People understand that Wider was/is a one trick pony. He will only be dangerous to the tin cans he prefers to take on. A 70%, hand picked Tyson Fury clearly won the first, and we all know what happened in the second fight. Fury is the only ‘live’ opponent he has taken on. Cooney was stiff, but I take him to KO Wilder by the 6th in an exciting ruck.
lyle young and norton said gerry was faster than I expected if I remember correctly. Also, I have eyes, Gerry was fast, was right there with Holmes, nailing him with jabs and combos. Gerry came out smoking, looking for the kill, and usually got it.
You're another guy who doesn't get it. . But every trainer , manager , promoter and fellow pro out there does get it.. Its why you never hear any of them call Wilder a bum who can't box. . They all understand what makes so dangerous and hard to beat. Its only the casuals/haters on forums who think Wilder is some sort of walk-over because he lacks elite level skill. Easy to say for armchair warriors , but i assure you nobody who has to fight him thinks its going to be easy. That 70% Fury was one in a million for surviving the knockdown in the 12th. . Many would have laid there for the count. Yes , we all know what happened in the rematch now.... But most thought Wilder was going to flatten a much fitter and better prepared Fury. Because Wilder has one trick but its a very difficult trick to take away from him. The performance Fury produced was one that Cooney nor anybody like him could replicate. Cooney was down early from a Holmes right hand as he marched forward . I doubt he would get up after walking into a right hand from Wilder
In celebration of apparently being able to type Cooney’s name without censorship, I pick the Cooney of the Holmes fight to do a quick job on the prima Donna. Wonder if Dick Tiger’s being released as well?