Holyfield vs Cooper, Holy had a hard time against Cooper..Why?

From what i remember at the time the jury was still out on Holy at heavyweight. Although in the end he won handily enough, the fact the Cooper touched for him didnt do Holy any favours in dispelling the myth.


Not 100% on this but i seem to recall that Cooper was banging 2 hookers at a time when he got word of the fight. A case of celebrating his payday early so to speak. Helluva good puncher when the mood took him

 

I think leon waited until he actually won something first, then all hell broke loose

 

Holyfield stood right in front of him, taking his time. Lazing about, waiting to KO the underdog. Almost cost him.

 

When motivated and in shape (and not partying and using recreational drugs), Bert Cooper could be hell on earth for anyone. Guy had great timing, serious power, enough speed to catch you, fantastic chin and toughness. That's the in-shape and motivated Bert. He had talent. If you don't believe me, just watch his fights with Mercer, Holyfield, and Moorer. He caught Holyfield with a perfectly timed brutal right that could have KO'd anyone. The fact that Holy took some serious bombs in that fight and still came back with guns blazing is a testament to Evander's toughness. The offensive output in that fight was amazing. Just a total war with speed, power, and volume. Cooper was catching him some brutal shots, but Evander was nailing him 3 or 4 to 1, and those were pinpoint clean hard shots that not many guys could take over and over like that. Despite getting hurt in that fight, that version of Holyfield gives anyone a very rough night of it.

 

Oh, he was throwing punches, now.. going for an early KO.. but then he admired his work, and didn't think about Cooper throwing back. Lacksadaisical effort from Holyfield, period.. until he got woken up, of course.

 

Just watched it for the first time in a while. Cooper showed a very good chin (Holyfield split his glove legit on Cooper's chin).

I don't think Holyfield respected Cooper.. especially after the first round body shot knock down.

 

:good:good:good 1st time i've watched this since back then, Brutal hammering of DeWitt, silenced the crowd big time

Great commentary as usual from the late reg gutteridge, full of observant passion for the sport. Reg got the Global Media Award for his outstanding commentary of the Hagler/Hearns battle with his immortal "8 minutes of Absolute Mayhem" quip juxtaposed with his cool observation commentary unlike those self promoting squealers like Bernstein/Lampley & Co.:deal

 

Holyfield was fighting in his backyard, thought he'd finish Cooper in a couple of rounds... he did drop him in the 1st with a hook to the body.

Holyfield beat Cooper every round except for the 3rd. Cooper fought well and he did get credit for a knockdown. Cooper landed a good shot, Holyfield went into the ropes and used them to prevent himself from going all of the way down (ruled knockdown, correctly so).

Cooper was a big puncher a decent fighter but he was hot and cold. He liked to party and sometimes he just showed up to get paid. He showed up to put on his best performance ever vs. Holyfield. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain (2 out of 3 of the major HW World Titles as well as the Lineal Title).

Cooper was at his best. He had won his last 4 by KO including a dominating 5th round KO over Joe Jipp. Cooper went on to give Moorer a hard fight before being stopped in the 5th. He had Moorer down twice.