Can Cooney win if he sticks mainly to the jab only throwing occasional rights and left hooks to the body, but not going for the knockout and punching himself out? Or does McCall force the fight out of Cooney and stop him late? Who wins this matchup?
I think Cooney has some success early but ultimately fades and gets knocked out by the ultra durable McCall. One trait that was super important when facing Cooney is durability. If you can survive his left hook early, he was somewhat easy to beat. He was essentially a one handed fighter.
First instinct is McCall absorbs Cooney's bombs and stops him later on. That said, in fantasy Hammer Vs Anvil match-ups we invariably give the benefit to the guy with the iron chin rather than the one packing the dynamite. Is there actually any strong evidence that strong chin > strong punch when it comes to H2H? McCall would probably rank as close to a 10 on the chin scale as you can get, but Cooney is up there in terms of hardest single punch hitters, whatever you want to say about his all-round game.
If the guys the great beard man beats include top punchers, I think it favors him. Especially when the puncher has any tendency to fade late.
I’m inclined to picking Oliver McCall. I don’t think Gerry can force a stoppage or KO here and nor did he have the greatest chin himself. I suppose if Cooney boxed intelligently and just jabbed his way to decision he MIGHT squeak by but I have my doubts
McCall weathersCooneys early power before taking control in the later rounds. McCall stops him with a sustained attack In the 10th.
You covered off on the possible scenarios that I can envisage. IF (big if) Cooney could rinse repeat the boxing abilities he displayed against Young, round after round for the whole route he could get away with it - but as already said, Cooney did seem to fade over the longer haul. Cooney is unlikely to dent Ollie’s chin but a reasonably focused body attack would be interesting to see for how much it might take the wind out of McCall’s sails.
I actually see Cooney outworking McCall over 12 rounds. Oliver just couldn't get into second gear so many times. And he wasn't the most devastating puncher/finisher. Hell, Frank Bruno last 12 rounds and getting the victory. And Gerry lasted 13 with a prime Holmes, one of the greatest heavies to ever enter a ring. A prime Cooney doesn't empty his gas tank and just outworks McCall, bouncing a variety of shots off him, stinging him, shelling him up, while Oliver hunts for a finish till the final bell.
