HOW good was GERRY COONEY???

[mickey malone]

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

A lot of what you say is true...

Cooney was brilliant to watch.. Simply, cos he was an 'Honest Upright Pro'
I think his approach to the sport has also been exemplified by his good heart since retirement.. As you're probably aware. He runs a charity for skint ex pros, & aint a bad soul... This also reflected on him as a fighter.. Never REALLY had the killer instinct & was probably (naturally) against hurting people..
Sometimes.. Being in the ring, is about protecting yourself at all costs (holding or hugging) Gerry was too honest for this.. Add to it, that the right would'nt bail him out, & what you got? A guy that gets KO'd when in deep water.. Wlad learned with 50 odd fights to his resume.. Don't even think Gerry had 30.. He was done at the same age as Wlad is now... Hope I've given you some insight.. Regards MM

[GJC]

Don't think he was psychologically strong or had a love of boxing. Was thrown in too early against Holmes but put up a good show against an ATG. Had he had gone away and learnt from it ironed out the flaws and come back who knows?
Wlad had few early defeats and learnt from them and came back stronger, I think Cooney had the basic tools to do the same but didn't.

[mickey malone]

Don't think he was psychologically strong or had a love of boxing. Was thrown in too early against Holmes but put up a good show against an ATG. Had he had gone away and learnt from it ironed out the flaws and come back who knows?
Wlad had few early defeats and learnt from them and came back stronger, I think Cooney had the basic tools to do the same but didn't.

Another way of putting it... Regards MM

[beez721]

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.

oh please. cooney didnt have half the talent of wlad

[Derranged_]

I rewatched the Cooney-Holmes fight yesterday and I gotta say, why can't we have some heavyweight championship fights like this one?! Although Cooney lacked the sharp boxing skills that Holmes possessed, he more than made up for it by his will and determination, endurance, and his clubbing/mauling punching style...

As for the topic at hand, I'd say Cooney was good, but he wasn't close to being 'world class.' That said, I think he'd give some of today's fighters* alot of difficulty but would undoubtedly come up short, like he did against Holmes, Spinks, and Foreman...

*not including the Klitschkos

[mickey malone]

oh please. cooney didnt have half the talent of wlad

100% Correct..

Whenever Gerry met anyone good.. The right would freeze to the side of his face & he'd get stopped with eerrrr..... Right handers...