HOW good was GERRY COONEY???

[TheGreatA]

WOW!

I thought I knew allot about boxing... I do but it doesn't go back that far with specific fighters... why did he turn to drug and alcohol???

i laughed at George and his sneeky running uppercut hahaha it loked so weird but damn he still had allot of power... allot!

Did Cooney have a bum chin??? he was in with ken and holmes.

I wouldn't say he was chinny. He was down early against Holmes but it seemed more due to inexperience than anything, he had never been hit that solid previously in his career. Holmes landed a lot on him but it was the accumulation of punishment and exhaustion more than anything that finished off Cooney.

He seemed blatantly disinterested against Spinks, who landed everything. Cooney did not know how to hold on and kept eating flush combinations.

Being KO'd by Foreman is no shame. The casually thrown left uppercut-right hand combination that ended the fight is one of the most brutal I've ever seen.

[them_apples]

Cooney-Klitschko is a very good comparison.

The only difference between them is the level of competition has gotten so much worse since Cooney's time. Heavyweight boxing is kind of a joke sport now, no elite athlete that big would choose to go into it when they can have so much more money and fame playing NBA or NFL.

its easier to make cash in football, but you won't make as much unless you are a superstar. So either way it doesn't matter. If a new popular american heavyweight surfaced he would be rich as hell.

I disagree with this being the only reason though, the USA isn't really as tough as it was in the 70's. You didn't have brooding tough guys walking around going knowwhere in life just looking to beat someone up and rob them. Now they just want to rap or play b-ball..some of them carry guns if they think they are rough.

Probably why the poor countries are still producing great boxers.

[R.Winky Wright]

It isn't...

Cooney could'nt use his right hand...
Especially in the fight against Foreman.. Watch it.. stays by the side of his face, while he paws and leads SOLELY with the left..
Cooney, to my knowledge, only ever used it once to effect.. KOing a shot to pieces Ken Norton in his last fight..
Trust me.. Wlad aint no Cooney....

As in Cooney was better or worse? I haven't seen many fights but the consensus was he had a pretty good chin and good hand speed. Do you think it could be that he was trying to avoid George's left hook?

[TheGreatA]

Here's the Jimmy Young fight, although it is in bad quality:

[R.Winky Wright]

It isn't...

Cooney could'nt use his right hand...
Especially in the fight against Foreman.. Watch it.. stays by the side of his face, while he paws and leads SOLELY with the left..
Cooney, to my knowledge, only ever used it once to effect.. KOing a shot to pieces Ken Norton in his last fight..
Trust me.. Wlad aint no Cooney....

its easier to make cash in football, but you won't make as much unless you are a superstar. So either way it doesn't matter. If a new popular american heavyweight surfaced he would be rich as hell.

I disagree with this being the only reason though, the USA isn't really as tough as it was in the 70's. You didn't have brooding tough guys walking around going knowwhere in life just looking to beat someone up and rob them. Now they just want to rap or play b-ball..some of them carry guns if they think they are rough.

Probably why the poor countries are still producing great boxers.

I think yes and no about poor countries they still need trainers and the strategy to make it far in boxing. I see some converted Maui Tai fighters convert to boxing and they walk with their head really high in the ring and get caught hard! they have all of the athleticism but the strategy is scary to watch it looks more like a tough man fight.

I know someone is gunna say it PAC MAN is the exception.

I do get the feeling that boxing doesn't generate as much popularity in the states casue of UFC...people want it casue it's always on... US Olympic hopefuls looked horrible... Cuba has a huge stable but i wouldn't consider them to be such a poor nation... they are by no means rich tho.

[R.Winky Wright]

Here's the Jimmy Young fight, although it is in bad quality:

WOW! I can look at it like Bird VS Klitchko. Cooney IMO from what i had seen is way better than kitch. His hands where faster and he had a wider variety of movement inside and outside fighting, combos...chin Cooney was pretty good!

it was getting ugly there... i think the fight went on a lil too long also...

[R.Winky Wright]

mickey malone

BUMP!

[mickey malone]

As in Cooney was better or worse? I haven't seen many fights but the consensus was he had a pretty good chin and good hand speed. Do you think it could be that he was trying to avoid George's left hook?

I'm saying, Wlad's a better boxer than Cooney..

If you watch the vid sent by GreatA (one I had'nt seen b4, cheers) you'll see Cooney using his right.. It isn't in the same league as his left leads.. Also when he throws it, he's wide open.. Wlad remains compact & produces good power with the right as opposed to the non effectual clubs thrown by Cooney..
Not only that, but Jimmy Young was way past his prime in this one.. Cooney was nowhere near as right hand happy against Foreman or Spinks..
With regard to chin & handspeed, they are similar, but Wlad's the more complete boxer..
Just watched the vid again.. Gerry throws 3 good rights.. 2 to the body.. 1 to the head.. But it's the left that does all the damage & stops the fight.. Cooney couldn't use it against prime opponents though..

[ACHlLLES]

Cooney looks like John Kerry

[R.Winky Wright]

I'm saying, Wlad's a better boxer than Cooney..

If you watch the vid sent by GreatA (one I had'nt seen b4, cheers) you'll see Cooney using his right.. It isn't in the same league as his left leads.. Also when he throws it, he's wide open.. Wlad remains compact & produces good power with the right as opposed to the non effectual clubs thrown by Cooney..
Not only that, but Jimmy Young was way past his prime in this one.. Cooney was nowhere near as right hand happy against Foreman or Spinks..
With regard to chin & handspeed, they are similar, but Wlad's the more complete boxer..
Just watched the vid again.. Gerry throws 3 good rights.. 2 to the body.. 1 to the head.. But it's the left that does all the damage & stops the fight.. Cooney couldn't use it against prime opponents though..

I would say Wlad's is better phisically but very very basic skill set wise. Cooney wasn't even trying to hold! Wlad is jab jab hold with this style of course your the only one getting off and then smothering the other guys offence... i hate holding in boxing! If they where more adimant about holding in the HW division Wlad would be near the top but now a title holder. He is a First ballet HOF but not an ATG... I would rate Cooney Higher becasue he faced stiffer competion and had better skills for a big man. Wlad's record is bloated with mummys that just stand in front as he potshots then and then holds... :S