Would a younger prime version of Gerry Cooney have defeated the versions of Michael Spinks and George Foreman that he lost to
He would have had a decent chance of jumping on Spinks like Tyson did and finishing him. A Foreman fight would have looked more like Lyle-Foreman but I still see George winning. But Gerry was just never the same after the Holmes fight, and the booze and the coke that followed. So much of boxing is above the neck.
No. Even Cooney at his best was too one-dimensional for me to see him beating Spinks or Foreman. The big left hook just isn’t enough. Even at his advanced age the Foreman that faced Cooney was too experienced and cagey. A younger prime Cooney might last a few more rounds, but I still see Foreman stopping him in similar fashion. Michael Spinks was also too smart for Cooney. I still see Spinks eventually cutting Cooney down.
No, Spinks and old Foreman always beat Cooney, Spinks is far too versatile, he’d set traps for Cooney whilst Cooney walks forward in straight lines with those earmuffs on. Foreman beats him because Cooney’s backfoot game wasn’t the best and he didn’t get full extension on his punches which would allow Foreman to be able to get inside easily and also have success at range on the way forward, also Cooney didn’t have the best defence, all of these things are a recipe for disaster against Foreman.
Spinks was an awkward brawler with a great sense of timing but I could see Cooney's physicality overwhelming him. Gerry could box pretty well and punch like the bejesus. Pre-Holmes Cooney really believed in his invincibility and power, and for pretty good reason. It took Holmes, and personal problems, to derail this. I don't see Spinks providing the necessary resistance to achieve this versus a 1980 Cooney.
Spinks had Cooney’s number. Cooney split rounds with Holmes and Foreman got outboxed by Morrison and beaten up by Stewart. I’m going to assume Cooney could move and jab enough to beat Foreman fairly wide. Spinks also beat the much better version, regardless of the excuses.
A serious shot against Spinks ... maybe even against the old George but he'd have t be very careful ... Cooney through Lyle was a real fighter ... his chin was obviously not A plus but he could fight for sure ... the guy that tried shortcuts vs Spinks and Foreman was not the same guy
Prime Cooney I'd favor over Spinks. Foreman, I say no, although Gerry could still hurt George but not beat him.
Cooney actually looked in great form against Foreman, as good as I've seen him possibly. He was sharp and aggressive with his punches and landed some good leather. Foreman's iron chin, experience and big punching were too much. He'd have more chance of turning it around on Spinks tho it's still up in the air. He looked terrible and it was the worst version of Cooney I've seen.
