Shavers vs Cooney in August of 1980

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Sardu, Jun 24, 2010.


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  1. Sardu

    Sardu RIP Mr. Bun: 2007-2012 Full Member

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    In August of 1980, rising heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney was slated to face the fading, but still dangerous, Earnie Shavers in the Joe Louis area in Detriot, MI. As we now know, Randall "Tex" Cobb took the injured Cooney's place and won an exciting, yet sloppy, fight by 8th round stoppage. Shavers later complained about the canvas being slippery which was a clear disadvantage for him being the much bigger puncher of the two.

    Shavers had way more left than did Ron Lyle who looked totally washed-up in being blasted out by Cooney a couple of months later in October. The once fearsome Lyle looked trim at a svelte 215lbs against Cooney. On the other hand he also had nowhere near the muscle tone and brick hard physique he had showed in his bouts with Quarry, Ali, Shavers, Foreman.


    We know Cooney could have not withstood the head and body shots that Cobb absorbed. It is also obvious that Cobb did possess the firepower and quickness of Gentleman Gerry. Cobb threw arm punches and basically pushed his shots without much snap on them. Shavers became exhausted from hitting him.

    Cooney, being susceptible to a straight right, could have big problems against Earnie - even in 1980 when Shavers was clearly passed his prime. Did his management (the so called wacko twins - Jones and Rappaport) know something and pull the plug on this themselves? I believe Cooney would have gladly fought Shavers. His management did want to take any risks before that pot of gold that was a shot at the undefeated Larry Holmes.
     
    Sardu, Jun 24, 2010
    Sardu, Jun 24, 2010
    #1
  2. Sardu

    Sardu RIP Mr. Bun: 2007-2012 Full Member

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    Joe Louis arena - sorry.
     
    Sardu, Jun 24, 2010
    Sardu, Jun 24, 2010
    #2
  3. Sardu

    Sardu RIP Mr. Bun: 2007-2012 Full Member

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    Cobb did not possess Cooney's firepower. Sorry again it is past 1am here.
     
    Sardu, Jun 24, 2010
    Sardu, Jun 24, 2010
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  4. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    If Cooney was healthy he'd KO Shavers in the summer of '80...........

    Cooney was ringside with Ken Norton and Don Dunphy for "Shavers-Cobb" in August of '80..... Cooney was supposedly injured at that juncture.........

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jun 24, 2010
    MRBILL, Jun 24, 2010
    #4
  5. natonic

    natonic Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Maybe Shavers had a little more left than Lyle but another aging slugger with a style made for Cooney. I take Cooney in 3 or 4.
     
    natonic, Jun 25, 2010
    natonic, Jun 25, 2010
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  6. Rico Spadafora

    Rico Spadafora Master of Chins Full Member

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    Cooney had so many fights that fell through from 1980-1982

    he was supposed to fight Weaver, Shavers, Bugner, and a couple of other guys but withdrew do to 'injury'. A few people claim the 'injury' was alcohol and his reluctance to want to show up for training.
     
    Rico Spadafora, Jun 25, 2010
    Rico Spadafora, Jun 25, 2010
    #6
  7. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Cooney would kay Shavers in about five rounds.He was still fresh at that time.
     
    Titan1, Jun 25, 2010
    Titan1, Jun 25, 2010
    #7
  8. natonic

    natonic Boxing Addict Full Member

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    In hindsight, given what I'd call Cooney's good performance against Holmes, I think Cooney - Weaver could've been a great fight. I'd favor Weaver in a series given his superior durability, but Cooney certainly could've gotten him out of there.
     
    natonic, Jun 25, 2010
    natonic, Jun 25, 2010
    #8
  9. Sardu

    Sardu RIP Mr. Bun: 2007-2012 Full Member

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    I read something a few years back that quoted Cooney as saying he was drinking heavily while training for the Holmes fight. A staggering amount of mostly vodka on a daily basis. The fact that he performed so credibly against Holmes before succumbing in the 12th makes this seem almost hard to believe. When Cooney looked like he sleepwalking against Spinks prescription percodan for pain coupled with alcohol abuse was said to be the culprit. Cooney had relatively small hands but hit exceedingly hard. The tendons in his shoulder and and left hand apparently had trouble absorbing the impact of his montrous lefthook.
     
    Sardu, Jun 25, 2010
    Sardu, Jun 25, 2010
    #9
  10. Sardu

    Sardu RIP Mr. Bun: 2007-2012 Full Member

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    The 13th round - correction.
     
    Sardu, Jun 25, 2010
    Sardu, Jun 25, 2010
    #10
  11. Rico Spadafora

    Rico Spadafora Master of Chins Full Member

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    I found an article after Cooney had fired Victor Valle and went with Gil Clancy for the Foreman fight that Valle said during the training for the Holmes fight he could smell alcohol on Cooney's breath during the morning training sessions.
     
    Rico Spadafora, Jun 25, 2010
    Rico Spadafora, Jun 25, 2010
    #11
  12. ThinBlack

    ThinBlack Boxing Addict banned

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    I could see Earnie possibly flooring Gerry early in the first two rounds, but afterwards, Gerry takes control and wins in the seventh round.
     
    ThinBlack, May 1, 2012
    ThinBlack, May 1, 2012
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  13. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Cooney would probably KO him as he did all the aging guys he fought at the time.
    I've said this before, this guy did well against Holmes and could/should have stepped back into the ring six months after the Holmes loss and continued his quest but this wannabe punk took a two year hiatus!!!
    I'm sick of the Cooney threads; just another example of a talented individual that had talent and didn't nurture it (can we mention 75-100 other fighters that fall into this catagory?)
    Next thread...
     
    jowcol, May 1, 2012
    jowcol, May 1, 2012
    #13
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Shavers actualy had a lot more left at this stage than the other name fighters that Cooney built his name against, and Cooney was already starting to loose focus.

    I am going to go against the grain and pick Shavers here.
     
    janitor, May 1, 2012
    janitor, May 1, 2012
    #14
  15. stonehammerjack

    stonehammerjack Member Full Member

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    Me too. Cooney never showed the fortitude and toughness people on here give him. the cooney they talk of is a myth. more so than the "GREAT" ayala. the first time Shavers lands-KO/ Probably would look exactly like the Foreman fight. It is amazing to me that 30 years after his career and unwillingness to EVER face a contender and NEVER beating a ranked or prime fighter, the Cooney-mania and fairytales continue. Give it up! He just was not what you wanted him to be. He had neither the heart nor deisre to be a top flight fighter. Easyroad Gerry. The real fighters named Jerry were Quarry and Coetzea. Their body of work could sustain an arguement and they fought anyone and gave good accounts of themselves. Not Cooney. One of the best moments in history of what fans thought was in 83 at the Duran-Moore fight, when all the fighters were introduced and when Cooney was and went to get in the the ring with the champions, he was BOOED.
     
    stonehammerjack, May 2, 2012
    stonehammerjack, May 2, 2012
    #15
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