If Gerry Cooney were in the 1967-68 elimination tournament

It all depends against whom he would have to fight the fights he could lose would be against Bonavena and Ellis and maybe Terrell.

 

Gerry Cooney would get by fighters like Thad Spencer, Leotis Martin, and Karl Mildenberger. But he may have run into trouble with Ernie Terrell who by the way was equally tall, but had a grab clinch and clutch style. Jimmy Ellis would have too much speed for a plodder like Cooney, who always appeared to be very awkward, with lack of balance. Oscar Bonavena would swarm all over Gerry, and Jerry Quarry would be counter punching him. Floyd Patterson has faced heavy hitters like Bonavena, Chuvalo and Johannson. Floyd would have stayed on the outside using his speed, counter punching to win on points. Gerry gained prominence by fighting the over the hill twins, Ken Norton and Jimmy Young. He was exposed by Larry Holmes in 1982, it appears that his management protected him from the more dangerous prime contenders of that era.

 

Potentially he could beat anyone not named Frazier/Ali in this specific period. But he's too untested to know for sure

 

He would not have been in the final.

 

I pick Cooney over both Quarry and Patterson via tko

 

Who do you think would have beaten him? Bonavena, Patterson, Quarry or Terrell?

 

It would have depended upon the draw, but any one of those men might have done it.

Getting past two of them, is probably too much to ask!

 

My guess would have been Ernie Terrell, awkward style.

 

My guess would be, that he would not have entered the tournament.

Easier to get a ranking by beating up tomato cans.

 

Which he did in realty, refugees from a rest home in Ken Norton and Jimmy Young, he was too protected. Imagine Cooney meeting a prime Tim Witherspoon or a Pinklon Thomas.

 

I could see Cooney doing well against the taller, stiffer types like Terrell, Martin and Spencer but Quarry and Patterson have speed, ring acumen and power.
It's easy to forget that Gerry showed plenty of courage against Holmes but I take Quarry and Patterson to stop a badly gassed and befuddled Cooney late on.

 

He just did not have the fighter mentality to succeed, not to speak derogatory of him but he looked a bit clumsy in the ring, just my personal opinion. He was sheltered too much, made for television.

 

Agree Richard M. While he had a genuinely fine left hook, he pawed with his jab and tended to fall in horribly behind the right hand.
If you stood up still against Cooney, he could tee off with the big hook but imagine how Patterson and Quarry would have him reaching and missing.
He always seemed a very nice fella though. It's good to know his problems are behind him and that he and Holmes are such good mates.