How would Cooney have done against prime versions of Lyle, Young and Norton?

I pretty much agree that neither Lyle nor Norton would have beaten Cooney in their primes. Losing in one round, shortly after being rated fairly high, is an indication that even at their best, would not have produced far better results.

As for Young, he was not that far past his best. He was maybe 30 or 31 years old, and would win a streak of good wins following the Cooney loss over some decent young prospects. Plus, Cooney was one of only two men to ever stop Young. I think a peak Young would have a chance of boxing more rounds against Cooney, but I'm not sure if it would result in a win.

 

Call me silly, but i think a young Ron Lyle had the best chance of a turnaround. Lyle was some 39 years old vs Cooney and had been ko'ed by the ordinary Lynn Ball the year before. Lyle was a late bloomer but well past it by this fight. The Lyle from 5 years prior was still firing well and i think this Lyle would have been a good chance. Cooney wasn't THAT good and it's quite possible Lyle could put him to the sword in a shootout.

As said Young still had a bit to offer. Maybe Cooney would have beaten him at his best, hard to say.

Norton was well past it but could still fight a bit. Cliche yes, but he was bad vs aggressive fighters with big punches. I'd actually make Cooney the fave over the much better fighter. Norton would beat plenty of people Cooney wouldn't.

 

Well, I agree with everything John said about Lyle. I think that a fight with Young would be close, maybe beating Cooney by about 2 rounds. Norton never did good against big punchers, same result, just 2 rounds later.

 

Cooney would still beat Norton and Lyle, but lose to Jimmy in a close fight.

 

Cooney would lose to all three.:good

 

Lyle lost big to Quarry in his prime and was overated, Cooney would be a slight favorite to win again, Norton could not fight a puncher,Cooney should Ko him, Young could outbox him

 

Cooney is overhyped. he never held a win over a single decent young contender. hes not on any of their level. your telling me a man who outsluged george foreman and earnie shavers couldnt outslug gerry cooney? lyle by KO in 2

Young would box cooneys ears off easily like he did to foreman, lyle, and shavers(rematch). cooney was made for young.


Norton-cooney would be interesting

 

Cooney was definately overhyped, but from a styles standpoint, I can't see either Lyle or Norton beating him. Young was past his prime, but not totally shot either. Also, Cooney didn't exactly struggle with these men. He completely destroyed them. There's no way that Norton survives the necessary amount of rounds that it would take to wear down a prime Cooney, while Lyle and Young simply didn't have the power or reach. Cooney was a vicious left hooker with much aggression, and is somewhat underrated in my opinion. His fight with Holmes occurred 13 months after his fight with Norton-the only fight that Gerry had in a two year period, plus after coming out of drug rehab. Yet, he managed to stay close on the scorecards with a somewhat prime Holmes through 12 rounds before deteriorating. The Spinks and Foreman fights can't be factored into the equation when comparing Cooney to a prime Norton, Lyle or Young either. Norton, Lyle and Young were at least fighting actively when they met a youthful Cooney, whereas Gerry was semi-retired before facing Foreman and Spinks.

My guess is that Cooney beats a prime Norton by early knockout around 3 or 4. He struggles with Lyle in the begining, but stops him in the mid rounds 7-8. He is outboxed by Young early, but overpowers him late, or loses a questionable decision.