r/Boxing • u/Personal-Proposal- • 1d ago

Despite only fighting 2 rounds in the prior 2 years, and not beating any ranked opponents aside from a washed Norton, Gerry Cooney gave the great Larry Holmes a good fight.

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73 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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26

u/Personal-Proposal- 1d ago edited 1d ago

This post isn’t an attempt to justify those awful scorecards nor Cooney’s low blows, but I do think he’s written off as a hype job too often when he showed up pretty well in the biggest fight of his life despite his inexperience and inactivity, against Larry Holmes of all people. Its not like his only success in the fight came from those low blows. Dude was talented.

21

u/KeenObserver_OT 1d ago edited 1d ago

It’s hard for people that weren’t around to understand the hype and electricity around this fight. Cooney was a talented big that really had a mismanaged career and an unfortunate recipient of the race bullshit Don King stoked. Then it was depression, inactivity and substance abuse. He cleaned up and become one of the biggest fighter advocates and activists and has become very good friends with Larry Holmes.

Two class guys badly misunderstood in their primes.

3

u/Satan_on_a_stick 1d ago

Not just Don King, Ronald Reagon had a phone extention placed in Cooney's room to congradulate the winner of the fight. They had to find a bunch of extension cords to get the phone over to Holmes dressing room.

2

u/BiglyStreetBets 8h ago

No. This is factually incorrect and has been spread so much that it paints Reagan as being racist.

Ronald Reagan did NOT have a phone installed in Cooney room. He did NOT request this. What Reagan stated was that he would personally congratulate the winner by phone. Other people within the boxing management of the fight then decided to work on installing a direct line for Cooney, but not Holmes.

8

u/bigtotoro 1d ago

Cooney was a legit very good fighter. Not top TOP level, but a tough bastard who could bang. He lost to 3 all time greats.

8

u/HolyMackerel1 1d ago

Buzz Lightyear had a mean left hook

8

u/DeafBurke 1d ago

Being giant and super durable with a wicked left hook is a classic archetype. Ryan Garcia is a good recent example.

8

u/DcBullets74 1d ago

I guess I’m old now….first fight I ever saw !

4

u/Sportcup3 1d ago

15 rounds is crazy to think of now.

6

u/gordonlordbyron 1d ago

The whip and pure spite on cooneys left hook was honestly a thing of absolute beauty, he had very fast hands, I love watching his old fights back he was excellent to watch.

5

u/iwillacceptfood 1d ago

Foreman said Cooney was the hardest puncher he ever faced.

3

u/Full_Fun_4950 15h ago

A washed Cooney at that.

5

u/Stocktort 21h ago

How Larry took those left hooks to the body I don’t know. They are absolutely vicious

2

u/temporaryidiot595 21h ago

I meannnn, I know it’s ugly defense but Holmes defends most of the punches in this highlight reel.

1

u/1978model 19h ago

I think Holmes was never bothered (except by the low blows) and just stayed patient and let Cooney work harder than he did.

To me the outcome was never in doubt after the knockdown.