Suppose the inexperienced Cooney faces the veteran Ali in 1978 instead of Leon Spinks This fight is at the end of 1978 what would have happened?
I think Cooney would hurt Ali bad he was a terrific body puncher and Ali laying on the ropes would get punished it's literally the worst tactic to sit on ropes vs Cooney. Holmes had to fight at his absolute best and keep constantly on the move to beat Cooney. Ali didn't have the legs anymore and was far too past it and I'll go out on a limb and say Cooney by stoppage aswell.
For the rematch with Leon, Ali's dancing was ponderous, and his timing was off after the neurological damage Shavers inflicted, but still, Muhammad managed to stay on his toes and in the middle of the ring for most of 15 rounds. Gerry's not getting him early, and Cooney openly expressed concern about his stamina after Holmes. In 1978, Gerry's longest win was G.G. Maldonado over eight, but ST Gordon had also been disqualified for repeated holding, something Ali would not have been penalized for. Leon said Ali's key tactic in their rematch was holding and leaning on him, wearing on him. That's what happens in September 1978. It's just far too early for Cooney, and Ali's conditioning was sufficient for Leon II that he'd have danced, held, danced, held, he slipped Leon's shots very effectively in New Orleans (and Leon had speed Gerry didn't share), and jabbed well. Past round eight, Muhammad knows what to do with an underconfident and uncertain Cooney, who was no Leon Spinks when it came to going after Ali through the Championship Rounds (where Leon was noticeably tiring). No stoppage win for Ali, but Gerry simply wasn't ready in 1978. Gordon was his only scheduled ten rounder prior to 1979. Denis, one year later, made Gerry a name for the first time, but standing stationary, he wouldn't have won in September 1978, when Muhammad did have the legs for the last time to stay away. (If there was a DQ, Gerry would've gotten hit with it for low blows.)
Does a Bear poop in the woods? At the tail end of 1978, Muhammad Ali won back the WBA Title that he had lost to Leon Spinks in Feb 1978, but Ali did not look like the peak Ali of 1964-1967, as another talented poster pointed out, his legs were long gone, his dancing was ponderous. it resembled The Dancing Bear from the old Captain Kangaroo children tv series from the late 1950's and early 1960's. Ali looked pudgy around the midriff, his famous face also did not look the same but Leon Spinks looked far from the hungry challenger that wrested the title from Ali the past February. Gerry Cooney who was coming up as a challenger, would have hurt the legendary champion as Ali no longer had the legs to carry him out of danger as they once did in the 1960's, his stamina was long gone, as he now relied on the Rope A Dope to wear out his opponents, this would prove fatal against a power punching youngster that had a very dangerous left hook to the body. Coupled with Ali's once famous physical gifts from the 1960's now gone and in the record books, I see a Cooney victory more likely by decision in 1978. As Larry Holmes would say two years later in their actual title bout: Ali Floats Like An Elephant And Stings Like A Snail.
Did you mean to ask if a Baer poops in the woods? I think both Maxie and Buddy Baer must have. (I know Max Baer, Jr. did in the Beverly Hillbillies.) I also saw a dancing Max Baer quickly skipping backwards against Primo Carnera.
I don't think the Spinks fights holds much relevance to be honest Ali sat on ropes for large periods in their 1st fight which would be suicide against Cooney's body shots. And whilst Ali attempted to use movement against Spinks in their 2nd fight he was still awful and a shell of himself. Spinks is also a Cruiserweight sized small Heavyweight Cooney is a big hard hitting Heavyweight who had a tremendous left hook which Ali was vulnerable to. Ali would be getting alot by a huge punching Heavyweight to the head and body in all honesty I would be worried for Ali's health.
He’d probably have stopped Ali, with Ali ending up in the hospital in a bad way. Ali had nothing left by that point. Up against a big strong guy with a murderous left hook? Just no. Let’s not consider it. It’s not fair and Ali should have been retired by that point.
Ha Ha. I know that Max Baer Jr was a Double Knaut Spy on The Beverly Hillbillies, the Bear vs Carnera must have been good. I know that a Big Ugly Bear was defeated by one Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), not once but twice.
People are probably letting their minds drift subconsciously toward prime Cooney, but this isn’t prime Cooney, this is 1978. I’d still lean slightly in his favour, but it’s really hard to tell - Ali’s only fights in ’78 were not on the level I strongly suspect, so what to make of him, I don’t know. I’ll cautiously pick Cooney by stoppage in four.
Ney, You are about right, Muhammad Ali's legendary skills were a footnote in the boxing journals by 1978, he was miles from peak years, 1964-1967, we never got to see a prime Ali as he sat out 43 months from 1967-1970 due to his legal issues with the Selective Service.
Ali wins a very controversial split decision that for many looks jusk like another gift granted to Ali's gravy train.
