Mike Weaver vs Gerry Cooney (1982)

Weaver tremendous specimen and very tough. Gerry a little fragile and not durable in long fight. Gerry had a great offensive game and was a good front runner. He beats up Weaver early but Weaver weathers the storm and his counters start to blast Gerry. Gerry begins to wilt around 6th or 7th round. Weaver KOs him in 10th or less.

 

Weaver tremendous specimen and very tough. Gerry a little fragile and not durable in long fight. Gerry had a great offensive game and was a good front runner. He beats up Weaver early but Weaver weathers the storm and his counters start to blast Gerry. Gerry begins to wilt around the 6th. Weaver wins by KO in 10th or earlier.

 

I'm surprised that folks see only two scenarios - Cooney blasts him out early or fades late and gets taken out. I see a third possibility. Cooney in the early 80s going into the Holmes fight was in good shape, and he had height, reach, and a bit of footwork when he wanted. I can foresee him watching the Weaver-Tate footage, seeing that Weaver was very tough and kept his power throughout, and approaching Weaver as a boxer, sticking, moving a little, using his height and reach, and cautiously boxing his way to a decision. Weaver was very hittable, so outpointing him would not have been a problem, and Gerry had enough height, reach, speed, and natural power that Weaver would have to respect him. So a decision win for Cooney is not out of the question. Yes, the X factor would be that if Gerry got tired or caught, would he survive, and of course, Weaver could nail and take him out at any time. That always would be a possibility. But would he? We'll never know. What I do know is that the guys who took Cooney out in that era were very fast, lightning fast, slick boxers. Weaver was not that. He was a hittable plodder. (I discount Foreman because Cooney was essentially done and inactive for years and Foreman was an all-time great puncher and attacker.) It would have been a fun and interesting contest no matter how long it lasted.