Gerry Cooney
| Gerry Cooney | |
|---|---|
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Cooney (right) with actor Devin Harjes, 2011
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) |
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| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) |
| Reach | 81 in (206 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
August 24, 1956 Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 31 |
| Wins | 28 |
| Wins by KO | 24 |
| Losses | 3 |
Gerry Cooney (born August 24, 1956) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1990. Despite his relative inexperience, Cooney's exciting wins and size, aided by expert promotion, gained him a lucrative bout in 1982 with world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes in 1982. Cooney performed credibly before his corner retired him in round 13, and was regarded as having made a brave and determined effort. The view of him as tactically naive in defense was reinforced when former light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks stopped Cooney in five rounds in 1987. In his final bout, Cooney demonstrated his exceptionally hard punching power by staggering the powerful George Foreman, but was unable to capitalize on it. Showing a deficiency in basic self-protection, Cooney suffered a devastating second-round knockout that ended his career.
Born into a blue collar Irish-Catholic family on Long Island, Cooney was encouraged to become a professional fighter by his father. His brother Tommy Cooney was also a boxer, and reached the finals of the New York Golden Gloves Sub-Novice Heavyweight division.
Fighting as an amateur, Gerry Cooney won international tournaments in England, Wales, and Scotland, as well as the New York Golden Gloves titles. He won two New York Golden Gloves Championships, the 1973 160-lb Sub-Novice Championship and the 1976 Heavyweight Open Championship. Cooney defeated Larry Derrick to win the 1973 160-lb Sub-Novice title, and Earlous Tripp to win the 1976 Heavyweight Open title. In 1975 he reached the finals of the 175-lb Open division, but was defeated by Johnny Davis.
Cooney trained at the Huntington Athletic Club in Long Island, New York, where his trainer was John Capobianco. His amateur record consisted of 55 wins and 3 losses.
When he turned professional, Cooney signed with co-managers Mike Jones and Dennis Rappaport. He was trained by Victor Valle.
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