I know Cooney never became a great fighter, but he was a major force to be reconed with for a short time. I'm curious to know how others think he might have done against the Rock.
What a sluggfest!!! Prob be the biggest draw in fantasy Boxing history if you match an undefeated Cooney vs. Marciano. (You can pick the fighter and era in fantasy right?) anyway, I got The Rock winning by late Stoppage. but imagine more than a share of knockdowns each in this. great matchup.
Cooney had a rather weak jaw, Marciano a very strong one. Cooney was a lot taller, but this fight will be fought in the trenches where Marciano's short arms and stature may be an advantage. I'd say Marciano by KO under 4.
Yeah, they both hit hard but Rocky hit harder, and he could take a better punch too. I don't see how this one ends any other way.
Cooney was Big and had a great left hook but he was kind of frail in the body and would have trouble with Marciano's power he would be MARCIANO'D
I agree with the comments so far. i think cooneys skill for a 6'7 225lb man is underated and wished he had took on the highly skilled alpha champs of that era so see how good he really was. Marciano knew how to chop his opponents down to size and break them mentally/physically. Charlie goldman developed marcianos style for that reason. Its laughable that al weill put him in with so many stylistic disadvantage opponents(speedy boxers)...when weill threw marciano in vs big slugger(louis,layne) he destroyed them. Charlie goldman really wanted rock to fight nino valdez. Too bad, the fight almost happened weill had it booked it for miami in the winter. I think Cooney may drop rocky for a flash count but rock would break him down after that. Cooney lacked it upstairs it seemed. He didnt have the most concrete chin or body either.
I saw Cooney in all his bouts in the NY Golden Gloves -- the same height as he was as a heavyweight, but at 160 pounds -- one long length of pipe. Never saw a middleweight that size. From his converted southpaw stance, he teed-off on people with that left hook from the floor, like it was a golf club (made ya cringe) Shades of Bob Foster.
This is a tough fight where I can see Marciano getting knocked down and having a difficult time dealing with Cooney's size and power. It will not be as easy as people think. I could see it going into the mid to late rounds with the Rock eventually stopping Gerry. I could just as easily see Cooney getting Rocky in trouble early and finishing him, but I don't think that would happen.
I think Gerry has a much tougher time reaching way down trying to hit marciano in his crouch, considering gerry was a standup slugger
Cooney was not a bad boxer. He could dip low and deliver a hard body shot, then double it with a hook to the head. Although Cooney did not look that strong, he really could punch. Marciano sometimes started slow. Cooney might have a chance for a stoppage win early, but he just was not durable enough, or comfortable with pressure. I think Marciano would break though Cooney, pressure him, and eventually get a mid round TKO. Cooney needs better footspeed, stamina, and a better jab in this fight.
I also think he has a chance early. One thing about Gerry is that he was a great finisher., so the Rock would have to be careful early. But like you said, though I think Marciano would break Gerry down and get him in the mid rounds.
I was impressed when i 1st saw Cooney in the amatuers, he was I think 5-0 and his opponent was like 4-0 with a bye..Tough solid black kid, I think Cooney was a southpaw then but this was for the middleweight, Cooney was tall and Ko'd the kid in 1 rd with I think 3 KDs...then I saw him lose at lighthvy to Johnny Davis a tough fighter...It was a good fight but Davis hurt him I think in RD 3 and the ref stopped it...Cooney had a freak of a hook, that left arm was stronger than his leg and I seen him stop many foes with it...he was a bit frail in the body but he could have been better (confidence) should have put him in with solid guys (like Tex Cobb) to let him get 10 solid RDS under his belt, Cobbs power or aim would not have been dangerous but he was durable
