?I was a bad man, a bad man? ? Gerry Cooney
In the early 80?s Gerry Cooney was clearly on the rise as a destructive force in the heavyweight division. Blessed with desire, skill and arguably one of the most destructive left hooks in division history, ?Gentleman? Gerry quickly caught the attention of the mainstream media during his ascent towards a professional and personal moment of destiny, a shot at the world heavyweight title. The story on Cooney is a rather complicated one.
Fairly or otherwise America placed its hope for a white heavyweight champion upon the broad shoulders of a young man caught between the opposing agendas and politics of a cruel and often unfair sport, later having to live down the disappointment, dispersion and stigma associated with the unrealistic expectations of those ignorant to the oft twisted machinations of an unregulated blood sport. I remember well the cynical write-ups the leading boxing publications of the day so often circulated in the years after that fateful June 1982 night where ?Gentleman? Gerry bared his soul in front of the world against one of the greatest heavyweight champions in all of boxing history, and often wondered how so many supposed followers of the sweet science could turn on a man so quickly.
As an astute follower of heavyweight boxing during that period it was a distinct and extraordinary opportunity to sit down and catch-up with the man that once shook-up the boxing world and a pleasure to realize that two decades after hanging up the gloves, Cooney has in fact benefitted from that tumultuous period, at peace with his history and leading a fulfilling and happy life as a popular ambassador of our sport.
MP: You?ve done well since leaving the ring twenty years ago. Bring us up to speed on what you are doing today?
I?m doing a bunch of different things. I?m doing a lot of charity work, I go to the orphanage twice a week, and I make appearances. I got young kids; I have a nine year-old daughter, Sarah, a twelve year-old son Jackson and I have a twenty-one year old son, Christopher. Life if very full, you know it?s going too fast, I?ve been trying to slow it down.
MP: You founded Fighters Initiative for Support and Training some years back, an organization which helps retired fighters find a job. Tell us about F.I.S.T.
Well, F.I.S.T right now is on the shelf. We?re helping people out on an individual basis. What F.I.S.T represents is it gives a chance for athletes to come in and find out where their strengths lie through aptitude tests, maybe they are suffering from chemical dependency, alcoholism or they have some mental issues. From the ground up as the problem rears itself we address it until the next one comes out, and what we do is get them job ready and find them work.
MP: You are also aligned and involved with J.A.B, a union for prizefighters.
You know I?m for anything to help the betterment of boxing. I just thought that J.A.B was kind of premature; most of the guys who need J.A.B can?t afford the dues and the guys that don?t need it they don?t want to pay, they don?t have to pay. So it?s a situation that I think has been looked at over and over again and they?re still trying to work something out. Like I said, I support anything that will help the betterment of boxing.
MP: Going back in time to your rings days, you amassed a notable 55-3 amateur record, winning international tournaments in Europe and two New York Golden Gloves tournaments, the 1973 160lb Sub-Novice championship and the 1976 Heavyweight Open title. What do you recall of those early days and what made you want to become a fighter?
You know, those were some great, great days. When I was sixteen I was boxing probably six or seven months and I entered into the New York State Golden Gloves Championship really because of my oldest brother, he wanted to fight, and so we went into the gym together. He was a heavyweight and I was a middleweight, and it was the greatest experience. I grew up in a very rough tough Irish-catholic family and I learned a lot of negative things and boxing was the way for me to express the anger I felt for how I grew up. They put my picture in the paper after I won the middleweight championship that year, and I went on to continue fighting. It was a great experience for me knocking out the Russians in the Garden, getting an opportunity, although I couldn?t go to the finals of the Olympic trials in ?76, my father was sick and dying and I chose not to go, it was a great experience for me. I wouldn?t give it up for anything.
MP: You turned professional in February 1977, knocking out a fighter named Billy Jackson in one round. What do you recall of that moment and how did it feel to get that win under your belt?
It was in Sunnyside Gardens, which is not there anymore, which was a great fight arena in the old days. I had turned pro and was very excited about getting my feet wet and I went in there in great shape, took the fight and fortunately for me I was able to knock the guy out and my career got going.
MP: Known for having arguably one of the most devastating left hooks in the history of the sport, you amassed a 22-0 record before facing Jimmy Young, a fighter that had fought for the world heavyweight title just a few years before. Known for his slippery defensive style, you stopped Young on a cut in the 4th round. What do you recall of Young and that bout?
Well, you know, he was a great fighter, nobody ever looked good against him and he was looking out for my left hook, so I turned the hook into an uppercut and caught him on the bridge of the nose. I was in great shape, he was always a cagey, cagey guy, no one ever looked good against him and I really took him apart. God rest his soul, he did pass away some years ago. Fortunately I got a chance to spend some time with him before he died and it was great.
MP: After beating Young came Ron Lyle, a dangerous, talented puncher who once greatly troubled Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight championship and at one point went life and death with former heavyweight champion George Foreman in one of the most brutal and dramatic ring wars of all-time. Give us your recollections of Lyle and the bout.
Well he was a big tough guy and he was older; it was an opportunity for me. I didn?t realize it then but it was difficult for me to get fights because Don King owned most of the heavyweights and we refused to sign with him so I was kind of kept out. So I had to take fights when I could and Ron Lyle was a great guy for me to face. He?s another guy, I just came back from the I.B.H.O.F, I have a great relationship with him, and he?s in great shape today. In the fight, I just caught him with a body shot. He tried to rush me; with his experience he tried to throw me off by rushing me but you know, I was a terrific body puncher and I did have a pretty good left hook. I was able to work on his body and I think I broke a couple of his ribs that night and stopped him in the first round.
MP: You scored your most spectacular win in May 1981, stopping former WBC heavyweight champion Ken Norton with a sudden two-handed barrage in round one. What do you recall of that moment and did you feel prepared for a shot at one of the world titles?
I was a very bad man that night and I think I was in such great shape I could have beaten anybody that night. I did not realize this with Kenny but when you backed him up he really couldn?t get off. When he was coming forward he was a killer, but if you backed him up and could punch a little he froze up. I caught him on the ropes, I did not know he was stuck on the second rope and I kept swinging until the referee stopped it. He?s also a good friend of mine and although I really had a great win that night, I still have a hard time watching that fight.
MP: At one point it was rumored you would be facing Mike Weaver for the WBA heavyweight title. What happened to that bout and what did you see in Weaver as an opponent that you thought you could exploit to your advantage?
He was a good puncher, he would tire at times and was vulnerable to being hit with a big shot, he did not take a good shot and I was a very good left-hooker and good body puncher. To be honest with you, I really don?t know what happened to that fight. I think that my managers were looking for the big fight, to make the big payday, and Larry Holmes was the big payday.
MP: Strictly based on styles, you might have gotten Weaver out of there early.
I think that could have happened too. He was a very tough guy but right at that time in my life I was a very powerful, forward determined fighter.
MP: In June 1982 you fought a terrific war with WBC heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. The bout was waved off in the 13th round and despite the loss the cards indicated you were in the match all of the way. Give us your recollections of that night.
Unfortunately for me, I didn?t fight from May 11th 1981 until June 11th 1982, that?s thirteen months of inactivity to fight the biggest fight of my life, Larry Holmes, and I unfortunately wasn?t prepared for it. With all of that said and done, I did go thirteen rounds with one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, so I am really proud about that.
It was a great fight and I remember getting dropped in the 2ndround and thinking to myself, what the hell are you doing here, and that?s when I really woke up and started to fight. What happened to me was the fight was very close in the 12thround, 11th round, as I was moving in to throw a body shot, he was taking his arms and pulling my head down to avoid that body shot. The referee could not see it, he was always on the other side, and I had three points taken away for low blows.
Now granted, Holmes was the heavyweight champ, it was 115 degrees that night under the lights when that happened to me, but I had never seen three points taken and still be able to be successful, even though I knew the fight was close. Because of my lack of experience, I went out in the 13thround like I couldn?t win, so I wanted to show him that he couldn?t hurt me, and let him hit me. It was a very dumb thing; a lack of experience. I should have looked for a knockout, I made some mistakes, and that?s what experience is for. Had I had to live my life all over again, I would have had three or four fights before having the Holmes fight.
MP: You returned in 1984 reeling off three early-round wins through 1986. Why were you not more active after the loss to Holmes?
I had these two managers that couldn?t stand each other, I felt like I was in the middle all of the time. When I was fighting I couldn?t get this fight, I couldn?t fight that guy, I couldn?t fight this guy, I felt like I was in training camp forever with no fights. I was disheartened. In the amateurs you fight the next best guy, and after that the next best. In the pros, you sit around and wait for years. So I became disappointed, I started drinking and I got lost for a few years. I?d take a fight and hope for something good, then I?d go back at drinking again, those were some of the worst days of my life.
MP: You returned in June 1987 for a shot at the linear heavyweight title against undefeated Michael Spinks. You were stopped in round five. What happened?
Then of course in 1985 Larry Holmes fights Michael Spinks and loses to Spinks and they called me and asked me if I wanted to fight Spinks. I said ?do I want to fight Spinks? I?m gonna go to training camp tomorrow!? Then the fight didn?t end up taking place for two and a half years. The fight was on, it was off, it was on, and I was drinking and abusing myself during that time, and not training properly, and I got stopped in the 5th round that night with Michael Spinks. Meanwhile, he should never have been in the ring with a heavyweight who could punch like me if I was healthy and in shape. I have a lot of shame about that fight.
I cut him, and when I see blood the fight?s over, but I was just a walking dead man that night. I never really believed the fight was going to take place. It was a very low point in my life and after that I started to pick myself up
MP: Spinks and Holmes. Who had the more complicated style, quicker hands and who hit harder?
Well Holmes was a great fighter and is generally ranked in the top-five in all of heavyweight history. So yeah, Michael Spinks was a nice light heavyweight but I was not in any performance shape, and I have a lot of shame about that, but Larry Holmes was the greater.
MP: 1990 saw you return for one last bout against former and future heavyweight champion George Foreman, one of the most powerful heavyweights of all-time. You fought well behind a bust left jab and staggered Foreman early. In the 2nd round you were caught along the ropes and after climbing off of the canvas, stopped. Was there anything about Foreman that surprised you in that bout?
In April of 1988 I had put the bottle down and started to clean up my life. I had been promoting some boxing matches and one of the guys I was promoting besides Roberto Duran was George Foreman. One night he told me we should fight. I thought to myself that I wasn?t really into it, but I never really fought sober, I never really took a fight in shape and trained properly, so I kind of talked myself into it. I was in great shape, I was eight months sober without drinking or taking any substances, and I was in great, great shape.
That night, I hurt him, I rocked him pretty good, but being that I hadn?t fought in so long my timing was off, I got caught with a shot, and he?s a very powerful man, I got dropped and got stopped that night but it helped me for the first time in my life to turn the page; now there was something else for me to do with my life. Looking back, I just think, being sober, I needed some more time to get myself together to be more prepared for Foreman.
MP: How would you like to be remembered?
I was a bad man, a bad man. I?m a happy go lucky guy, I worked hard and I did the best I could with what I had. I wish that I had had somebody to help motivate me in a better way, growing up, as a professional fighter I could have been a lot better. Then also, I look at this; I have had the chance to visit the I.B.H.O.F and I see a lot of guys that are struggling, that got those extra fights that I was looking for, and so sometimes I think maybe it?s a blessing that I didn?t get all those fights that I was looking for. I have a very productive life, I help a lot of people, I love people and I?m quite busy. Boxing gave a different break to me. I hope to stay in the game. I did the best I could.
MP: Going back to my first question when you spoke of your family, it sounds like you are very blessed, that life has been very good to you.
Oh I?ve got it made. I?ve got great kids and a great wife, and I love them so much. I never heard that in my household growing up.
MP: Is there anything you?d like to say to your fans?
I love the game of boxing and we are struggling here in America for some good fighters. I think the business has been raped and robbed for so many years from the promoters, officiating has been really bad and we need to clean that up. Somebody, some people in this country, will one day stand up and boxing will one day get back to where it was, back when we were fighting in the 70?s and 80?s
Gerry Cooney Nickname: ?Gentleman? Division: Heavyweight Professional Record: 28-3, 24 KO?s
Date Opponent Location Result
1977-02-15 Bill Jackson Sunnyside, Queens, US W KO 1 1977-03-02 Jimmy Robertson New York, US W KO 2 1977-03-20 Jose Rosario Louisville, US W KO 2 1977-08-03 Matt Robinson New York, US W PTS 4 1977-11-18 Joe Maye New York, US W KO 4 1977-11-30 Quinnie Locklear White Plains, US W KO 1 1977-12-21 Jimmie Sykes Brooklyn, US W KO 1
1978-01-14 Terry Lee Kidd Hauppauge, US W KO 1 1978-01-27 Austin Johnson Hempstead, US W KO 1 1978-02-11 Gary Bates Las Vegas, US W KO 4 1978-03-17 ST Gordon Las Vegas, US W DQ 4 1978-06-22 G.G. Maldonado New York, US W TKO 8 1978-10-04 Charley Polite White Plains, US W KO 4 1978-11-01 Sam McGill White Plains, US W UD 8 1978-12-15 Grady Daniels New York, US W RTD 5
1979-01-13 Eddie Lopez Miami Beach, US W UD 8 1979-02-26 Charlie Johnson New York, US W KO 1 1979-06-29 Tom Prater New York, US W TKO 2 1979-08-22 Broderick Mason New York, US W KO 4 1979-10-19 Malik Dozier Commack, US W KO 6 1979-11-09 John Dino Denis New York, US W TKO 3 1979-12-14 Leroy Boone Atlantic City, US W TKO 6
1980-05-25 Jimmy Young Atlantic City, US W TKO 4 1980-10-24 Ron Lyle Uniondale, US W KO 1 1981-05-11 Ken Norton New York, US W TKO 1
1982-06-11 Larry Holmes Las Vegas, US L TKO 13 WBC Heavyweight Title
1984-09-29 Philipp Brown Anchorage, US W TKO 4 1984-12-08 George Chaplin Phoenix, US W TKO 2
1986-05-31 Eddie Gregg San Francisco, US W KO 1
1987-06-15 Michael Spinks Atlantic City, US L TKO 5
1990-01-15 George Foreman Atlantic City, US L TKO 2
