Ron Lyle vs Bert Cooper

50/50 type fight for me...this is the level both guys are on IMO

 

Glad your liking it. I go back and read a chapter out of mine every now and then. I don't know how many times I've watched the Foreman fight either. His fights with Shavers and Quarry were magnificent as well. He does seem quite different as opposed to the intimidating, hulking guy in the ring.

 

I can't agree. Lyle lost only every once and a while, and with the exception of Lynn Ball, always lost to the very best in the world. Cooper lost frequently and to less than credible opponents at time I might add.

 

I agree with the premise of your post. But Lyle wasn’t that much bigger than Cooper. He was around 215-218 and 6’2”. Cooper was about 6’0” and for his better heavyweight fights was in the 213-220 range. He was also muscular as hell at that weight

 

Has a better mustache, too.

 

Cooper was 5’11 and Lyle was a legit 6’3. Lyle was a fair bit taller and was a better boxer to boot.
I’m a fan of Cooper and when on song he was a dangerous man but he was really a fringe contender/gate keeper type whereas Lyle was more a legitimate contender in a deep division of the period.

 

Fair enough. I maintain though that when Cooper was In good form he’d given Lyle a good fight however.

 

Absolutely.

Moorer, Mercer and Holyfield found that out the hard way.

 

Those were some of the most entertaining fights

 

He also beat Joe Savage who was the undefeated bare knuckle boxing champion.

 

I'll second this.

 

Excellent book...one of my favorites

 

Finished it yesterday.Agree with you an excellent read

 

Hey George? You forgot Joe Savage.

 

Lyle was 6'3 not 6'2 and he weighed 220 ripped pounds in his peak shape against Foreman. Cooper was clearly overweight at 220, muscular or not he was over his natural weight,Cooper was a natural full sized cruiser.