The Joe Louis that lost to Marciano vs. Gerry Cooney

Agreed. It's fair to assume that Cooney could have been developed more, in readiness for a title fight. How far? We don't really know but any additional preparation and growth wouldn't have done any harm to Cooney's chances.

It's also the case that a 12-rounder would have been on the table, via the WBC, in '83 (and Holmes would have been a year older).

 

Mike Jones was a decent guy who earned Cooney a lot of money, and did a good job with Billy Costello.

 

Cooney was his own worst enemy, he has to shoulder the responsibility as to why his career fizzled out.

Rappaport.

 

He was pushed thru without gaining the best of experience to actually win a title, or have his best chance of winning one. This however allowed them to get the huge money with not many risks. These were definite trade off's both ways. It's Cooney's fault however that one loss, and not a bad one by any means effectively ended his career. He could have been back on the bike fighting fringe contenders learning his trade and then easing into the higher tier.

 

Gerry Cooney was very effective at breaking down aging fighters and stopping them before they could get their bearings. And a fast starting big man with a ton of power is certain death for a considerably slowed veteran.

Cooney by early TKO.

 

Cooney by ko. This version Joe was shot and cooney looked decent against shot fighters (Norton and Lyle).