The thing is the 80’s was the best era in boxing,it began with Holmes and Ended with Mike,with all the legends in between,Leonard ,Duran , Hagler,Spinx,I could go on and on
For those who don’t know the full history of this, Cooney was made into the Great White Hope who would take the title back from the black man. Holmes was introduced first (a total insult to a champ), and a special phone line was installed in Cooney’s dressing room so Reagan could call him to congratulate him when he won (Holmes received no such call when he won). Was made into a total white vs black thing. Except Cooney is actually a good man and didn’t like it. Mostly just silently went along with it. After the fight, Holmes went to see Cooney, and they ended up becoming lifelong friends. You can google and find a bunch of pics of them hanging out over the years, see current pics of them hanging out as old men. Pretty cool ending to the whole thing.
@@georgenedelkoffnedelkoffu833sure can. Only kayoed once and that was by a young, prime Mike Tyson. Amazing record considering some of the tough opponents be faced. His victory over Ray Mercer aged 41 was extraordinary and he made it look easy against a guy that later gave a prime Lennox Lewis a really tough fight.
I met Cooney at the Arguello, Pryor fight in Miami. I had 2nd row seats, and he sat next to me. Dustin Hoffman sat behind me. (I got lucky). A real human being! Cooney was friendly and quiet. He seemed to be genuinely absorbed by the fight. Damn! I am old!
Larry Holmes literally had everything you can want in a championship fighter, it's just a shame that he came right after one of the greatest of all time.
Well, and beat him, and beat him when he shouldn't have been in the ring, all of which is no fault of Holmes. He got a raw deal. And announcing him before the challenger? That sums it all up.
Not only was he the unfortunate next great heavyweight champion after boxing's all-time biggest and beloved fighter, Ali, he was also the predecessor to who would become probably the 2nd biggest and most famous heavyweight/boxer in the history of the sport, Mike Tyson.
I love the fact that Larry and Gerry became good friends after all the nastiness of the build up. They also took some serious digs from each other, Gerry taking the most of course, but sticking in there and proving himself to be a true warrior against an atg
@@StephenForster-gl5fc That’s true. But he was hostile to the press and didn’t help his case any, because his feelings were hurt. Boxing is a tough business, no room for feelings.
@@martinbrenner6664 if you've ever entered the ring you'll know how hard it can be,and it isn't easy when your appoinants are trying to beat the shit out of you,as you do like wise,,there's no love lost
Hated Holmes as a teenager, but as I got older I realised he was one of the best heavyweights of all time - his jab, movement and ring knowledge was second to no one. Give Holmes the praise and status he deserves whilst he is with us - one of the best.
Reading the comments, you'd think this was a one-sided fight. Cooney took a lot of hard shots but got through Holmes defense with surprising regularity. Frankly either of these guys would pummel many modern heavyweights.
Its so fkd up that the sports media didnt give Holmes his flowers, but yet they give flowers to bums like Wilder. Holmes easily is top 5 all time Heavyweight Champion 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Correct 👏 yeah Don King didn't really like Larry Holmes and that's why he never got the due he deserved and that's why he didnt surpass Marciano 49-0 record
I didn’t like Larry Holmes as a fighter and thought he was an ass. Then I met him one night and what a kind and sweet gentleman he was to me. He shook my hand and was very polite and humble. I like him as a person now.
@@TechnoLawyer He was very nice to me. I met him when I was working in a bar. I was taking out the trash and almost walked into him. I looked up and said, hey, your Larry Holmes. He said that’s right and reached out to shake my hand. His hand wrapped around mine like a glove. I was pushing a trash can and he shook my hand. He was a gentleman.
@@kyalebrooks Larry could not only hit but be hit and still stand and counter,,if he where around today he would be undisputed champion and none in the current division could touch him,,sadly the heavyweight division is lacking any true heros
Years ago i got the impression that larry was angry and arrogant but hes come to my area in Scranton PA a number of times and I had a chance to meet him and speak with him and larry is a real gentleman. He very popular in my area
Love the content guys! They don’t make fighters like this anymore. Fighters from the 70s 80s 90s would wipe the floor with these bums right now. I think, the klitchkos and Usyk would have stood a chance back in the day but Wvlad would’ve have had held the title for 10+ years. Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson, Lennox, Howe, Holyfield, Morison, Tua, spinks, Holmes, Norton…. Any one of these would thrive today!!! They fought Multiple times a year (yes all end up with CTE) buttttt…. They were showman! These pretenders fighting every 18 months now…. A mockery of the sport
@@b.7353 That's right as most champion boxers aren't washed up at age 38. It's just a question of the reflexes remaining intact. Roy Jones junior was the earliest I'd ever seen a champion boxer's relaxes go at the tender age of just 36.
So wrong to say if he was black he wouldn't have been anybody as a boxer. When Jay Leno asked George Foreman who ever hit him the hardest, he said without a doubt, Cooney! He said he couldn't believe how hard he was getting hit by Cooney. He thought he had better end it as fast as he could. Cooney had beaten men that had beaten both Foreman and Ali !
How? Gerry beat an old as hell Ken Norton. An old Ron Lyle. He fought a much older George Forman and got stopped. Just because he hits hard doesn’t mean he’s a great boxer. Gerry was good and had a lot of potential, but let’s not act like his skin color didn’t contribute to his success.
I though Cooney made a great showing here. for a KO artist he was not trying to beat Holmes with single shots but was doing good body work and putting some good combinations together. He certainly deserved to share the ring with this all time great Eastern Assassin.
Prime Larry Holmes was unstoppable..Cooney was ok, but Larry was quite simply great and absolutely devastating with that lightening fast jab and critical right hand. Larry had excellent movement as well..he was too much for Cooney.
With a telegraph pole jab and that crushing overhand right, great chin and ability to recover a prime Larry Holmes could give any Heavyweight of any era a serious problem.🥊
Larry. Holmes Didn't lose until he was almost 36 years old Was 48-0 Probably the most underrated fighter in boxing history, and he was champion for 7 years!
This one still upsets me that they had the nerve to announce the champion larry first and not last. The racism and favoritism was so blatant the president even called cooney to wish him good luck. Very cathartic watching holmes turn cooney into a bobblehead that night
I think there are much worse examples of racism against ordinary people that should upset us before we become too upset about celebrity sportsmen like Larry Holmes
Holmes always tried to be charismatic like Ali but always sounded mentally challenged. But in the ring he's definitely top 3 in all time history (Ali,Louis and Holmes).
After winning the heavyweight title Larry Holmes foolishly tried unsuccessfully to imitate Muhammad Ali. But those who knew boxing realized Cooney wasn’t going to win.
One of my all time favorite fighters Larry Holmes. Upthere with my other favorites like George Foreman, Marvin Hagler, Wilfred Bazooka Gomez, Tommy Hearns, Salvador Sanchez and Miguel Cotto.
Larry Holmes was a great fighter one of the greatest along with Big George Foreman and the real deal Evander Holyfield my favorite heavyweight boxers of all times
Thank you so much for this content! It has been a while watching similar doc. Thru TV. “Great White Hope” movie based on this fight! I love it. Thank you again!
Before the fight started Larry was introduced first and you could see his corner was upset . But Larry remain cool and went about getting ready for the fight. That small moment in boxing history showed his commitment to boxing.
@@johngrimkowski598 Maybe it was all too much for him. I mean, information indicates he didn't like the promotional line (black vs white), apparently he had problems with his father too. Or maybe going 12 rounds with Larry was the best he could do etc.
14:48 I always recognize that even though Tyson wasn’t a perfect guy he often was a class act back then, you can see that even when he knocks someone out he goes to check on him and help em up, boxing is so sportsmanlike
Cooney was good but got pushed too fast. If he developed from better training and his corner wasn't trash he might have ended up better. Holmes was a good champion in a relatively weak era. Not his fault, it is what it is.
Cooney was caught in a trap as far as competition. There just wasn't that much out there that was quality that he hadn't beaten already and the others had more to lose by fighting him than they would gain. Better management and training definitely would have helped. Dude was a beast.
Cooney got 10mil for his fight with Holmes. In 1982. That’s the equivalent to 32mil today. And you think his team did him wrong? That’s about the best conceivable management of a fighter to get him that cash out money early in his career, before he took any real damage.
Cooney had an excellent left hook, but he wasn't ready. No right hand. No chin. Pushed way to fast. Lots of good but not great heavyweights in the early 80s. Cooney fought none of them. To get a title shot and top billing bc he beat an unmotivated Jimmy Young. A washed up Ron Lyle and an old & semi retired Norton. Cooney had no chance of winning this fight but was on the cover of Time & Sports Illustrated. 🤦♂️
Holmes was indeed “the package” and besides his physical strength and training possessed a great vocabulary of punches. Cooney was indeed an undefeated leviathan going into this fight. His (mis)handlers did him no favors by feeding into the disrespectful fight promotion behaviors. In fact, if Cooney’s (mis)handlers had followed Cooney’s genuine personality and treated Homes with respect, there is a valid argument that Holmes’ resolve would have been lessened going into (and during) the fight. Cooney landed many massive bombs that may have demoralized a less-agitated Homes.
I`ve never forgotten what George Foreman said after his fight with Cooney: He said;.." About 30 seconds into the first round Cooney threw a left hook to my body, I blocked it with my right arm;.....the power went through my arm and into my body and within seconds left me feeling dizzy." That is terrifying power.
@@itsinthetreesitscoming7431 There has never been any doubt about George`s power, but he later admitted he had been physically shocked by the power of Cooney`s hooks.
Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes 3 best ever heavyweight champions in boxing history, IMO. Followed by champs like Foreman, Marciano, Frazier, Johnson, Dempsey, Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis, Liston, Vitale and Wladimir Kitschko, etc. I think Larry deserves to be in top 3. He would beat all the others. Great jab, great movement, tough guy and fast heavy hitting hands and strong inside. Strong and smart very quick handed with good power. Best jab of all in heavyweight history, IMO. I watched him train in his gym in Easton in the early 1980s when I was a 16 year old kid. Very cool guy to his fans. Larry took time and took pictures with us and talked with all of us there, signed autographs, etc. all the fans who stayed to meet him after his workout/shower get out of gym trunks and come back dressed in clothes, etc., joking and laughing, real nice guy. A true champion.
Both Klitschko brothers were bums and never made the transition from amateur to professional boxing. Lewis mopped the floor from pillar to post with one of them before retiring.
@@parkerbohnn Lewis is better IMO than the Klitschkos. Lennox fought Vitale at the end of Lennox's career. Vitale was ahead on the cards when the fight was stopped Because Klitschko's injury was a result of punches from Lewis, Lewis was named the winner of the fight by technical knockout. Klitschko was ahead 58-56 on the scorecards with two judges giving Lewis only rounds three and six and the other rounds five and six. Yet, Lennox deserved the win stopping Vitale.
Maintaining the dark underbelly of Professional Boxing is ever present, especially when anyone addresses Clooney aa Gentleman Gerry Clooney the "family jewels hunter." OH, he's a gentleman alright...
I was very young when this fight took place but I remember the great white hype that was all over sports before the fight. Sports media truly wanted Cooney to win.
Holmes was a great champ . People never gave him respect. I think because he beat Ali . I always liked him and respected what he did in the ring . Plus like Cooney and like listening to he radio show on Sirius
Cooney would have steamrolled any of the bums today in the heavyweight division. The heavyweight division has been in the dark ages ever since that bum Klitscho was champion.
I loved Larry Holmes. He did not get the respect that he should have gotten. He followed Muhammad Ali and Ali was very political and was promoted by the liberal media unlike Holmes who kept politics out of boxing. Larry fought every challenger that was presented and beat them. He was 48 W and 0 L when he sustained his first loss.
Gerry Cooney was The Great White Hope of the 1980's Took down Ron Lyle in 1 round Then ended Ken Norton's career, so he deserved the shot He put up a great fight, going 13 rounds with the best heavyweight of the 1980s
Larry Holmes was a great champion best jab I've ever seen got knockdown got back up and won a champions heart confidant and if I remember was Muhammad Ali sparring partner! A Great Champion 👍.
Larry Holmes is perhaps the greatest heavyweight champion. Larry took on all comers in a brutal heavyweight era, he dodged no one. ali dodged Holmes while he was taking on a chump like Leon Spinks among others in the mid-late 70's. He chose Spinks over Holmes becasue he knew he couldn't handle Larry. Ali only chose to fight Holmes when he was washed up and he could use that as an excuse. Holmes was a humble soft spoken man, not a big mouth showman like ali and the medai held that against him. The media couldn't milk Holmes with big money hype like they could with ali. The media and most boxing fans were against Holmes when Cooney came around and Larry fought a typical Larry Holmes fight. Holmes methodically took Cooney apart with the caution and respect Cooney deseverd with the punching power he had.
Fight was much closer than Larry thought it would ever be.
...and with that said Larry has never gotten the respect and accolades he richly deserves.
Spot on pal
The thing is the 80’s was the best era in boxing,it began with Holmes and Ended with Mike,with all the legends in between,Leonard ,Duran , Hagler,Spinx,I could go on and on
For those who don’t know the full history of this, Cooney was made into the Great White Hope who would take the title back from the black man. Holmes was introduced first (a total insult to a champ), and a special phone line was installed in Cooney’s dressing room so Reagan could call him to congratulate him when he won (Holmes received no such call when he won). Was made into a total white vs black thing.
Except Cooney is actually a good man and didn’t like it. Mostly just silently went along with it. After the fight, Holmes went to see Cooney, and they ended up becoming lifelong friends. You can google and find a bunch of pics of them hanging out over the years, see current pics of them hanging out as old men. Pretty cool ending to the whole thing.
Holmes can take a punch !
@@georgenedelkoffnedelkoffu833sure can. Only kayoed once and that was by a young, prime Mike Tyson. Amazing record considering some of the tough opponents be faced. His victory over Ray Mercer aged 41 was extraordinary and he made it look easy against a guy that later gave a prime Lennox Lewis a really tough fight.
I met Cooney at the Arguello, Pryor fight in Miami. I had 2nd row seats, and he sat next to me. Dustin Hoffman sat behind me. (I got lucky). A real human being! Cooney was friendly and quiet. He seemed to be genuinely absorbed by the fight. Damn! I am old!
Yes, the Great White Hype movie was heavily taking from that, and, the Don King / Mike Tyson relationship.
@@ardradiva So, what does your indecipherable agenda have to do with an old man recounting an warm memory? Little man you are.
Larry Holmes literally had everything you can want in a championship fighter, it's just a shame that he came right after one of the greatest of all time.
He was a great student and a champion in his OWN RIGHT .
Well, and beat him, and beat him when he shouldn't have been in the ring, all of which is no fault of Holmes. He got a raw deal. And announcing him before the challenger? That sums it all up.
True day! And the beating he put on him didn't help. It took me a long time to get over that
Not only was he the unfortunate next great heavyweight champion after boxing's all-time biggest and beloved fighter, Ali, he was also the predecessor to who would become probably the 2nd biggest and most famous heavyweight/boxer in the history of the sport, Mike Tyson.
Except the one punch knockout.
My all time favourite boxer , grew up watching Holmes , Ali , Foreman , Norton , Shavers etc but Holmes stands out for me , he had everything.
I wonder...fury against cooney. Would have been a great fight.
I love the fact that Larry and Gerry became good friends after all the nastiness of the build up.
They also took some serious digs from each other, Gerry taking the most of course, but sticking in there and proving himself to be a true warrior against an atg
Larry holmes never got tbe praise he deserves,a great champion
@@StephenForster-gl5fc That’s true. But he was hostile to the press and didn’t help his case any, because his feelings were hurt. Boxing is a tough business, no room for feelings.
@@martinbrenner6664 if you've ever entered the ring you'll know how hard it can be,and it isn't easy when your appoinants are trying to beat the shit out of you,as you do like wise,,there's no love lost
It was tough for him. As Don King said, "People will pay more to watch Ali watch Holmes fight than watch Holmes fight".
Absolutely CORRECT ❤
g
Hated Holmes as a teenager, but as I got older I realised he was one of the best heavyweights of all time - his jab, movement and ring knowledge was second to no one. Give Holmes the praise and status he deserves whilst he is with us - one of the best.
Holmes was a joke, a fraud who looked like a scared little girl against tyson. And tyson himself was a JOKE, a fraud
Larry was jiggly underrated
@@bradhuskers You don't appear to know an awful lot, but make up for it by having a big mouth.
What a great era in heavyweight boxing
@@davidharrison3399 an era that was missed by some but acknowledge by many,it comes with age and experience
Reading the comments, you'd think this was a one-sided fight. Cooney took a lot of hard shots but got through Holmes defense with surprising regularity. Frankly either of these guys would pummel many modern heavyweights.
I miss heavy weights like Larry Holmes who would clean the clocks of these heavyweights of today. Good old days are gone.
Yeah, I forgot how good Holmes was. Great 1-2.
Cry hardaaaa
💯 A prime Larry Holmes today would have his own "Bum of the month" club with a lot of these guys.🥊
Its so fkd up that the sports media didnt give Holmes his flowers, but yet they give flowers to bums like Wilder. Holmes easily is top 5 all time Heavyweight Champion 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Flowers don't buy the groceries or pay the rent.
Bro Larry Holmes in the USA heavyweight today most definitely 😁
@@joekulik999 🙄 wow, it really went over ur head 🤣
True... He is top five, no doubt...
Correct 👏 yeah Don King didn't really like Larry Holmes and that's why he never got the due he deserved and that's why he didnt surpass Marciano 49-0 record
I didn’t like Larry Holmes as a fighter and thought he was an ass. Then I met him one night and what a kind and sweet gentleman he was to me. He shook my hand and was very polite and humble. I like him as a person now.
He’s an ass to reporters. Always hated them. Still does. He was always a nice dude to fans though.
@@TechnoLawyer
He was very nice to me. I met him when I was working in a bar. I was taking out the trash and almost walked into him. I looked up and said, hey, your Larry Holmes. He said that’s right and reached out to shake my hand. His hand wrapped around mine like a glove. I was pushing a trash can and he shook my hand. He was a gentleman.
If you don’t like him as a fighter, then you know literally nothing about boxing.
One of the great cigar lounges is in his hometown Easton, Pa. I went there and met him, just the nicest guy.
@@bkjay08 does he own the place? (I mean, it’s Easton)
Cooney was talented but one dimensional. One of the best left hooks of all time, but you need more than that against one of the best of all time.
Reminds me a bit of Ali vs Foreman
and with that said the fight was closer than it looked.
He didn't have any head movement.
@@richardbarneycastle1262what heavyweight other than Ali & Joe had head movement in the 70s, Lol
@@richardbarneycastle1262 No head movement, no foot work, no jab and a dicey chin.
Cooney’s left hand hooks were evil. Foreman’s ko punch against Cooney is probably boxings greatest punch.
The difference between 12 and 15 rounds is crazy!
@@kyalebrooks Larry could not only hit but be hit and still stand and counter,,if he where around today he would be undisputed champion and none in the current division could touch him,,sadly the heavyweight division is lacking any true heros
@@StephenForster-gl5fctotally agree.
Anthony Joshua wouldn't last a round.
Holmes one of the baddest dudes to ever step foot in the ring.
Years ago i got the impression that larry was angry and arrogant but hes come to my area in Scranton PA a number of times and I had a chance to meet him and speak with him and larry is a real gentleman. He very popular in my area
He’s angry because of the amount of discredit he got through out his career. I would be bitter too.
Love the content guys! They don’t make fighters like this anymore.
Fighters from the 70s 80s 90s would wipe the floor with these bums right now.
I think, the klitchkos and Usyk would have stood a chance back in the day but Wvlad would’ve have had held the title for 10+ years.
Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson, Lennox, Howe, Holyfield, Morison, Tua, spinks, Holmes, Norton…. Any one of these would thrive today!!!
They fought Multiple times a year (yes all end up with CTE) buttttt…. They were showman! These pretenders fighting every 18 months now…. A mockery of the sport
Larry was a beast..one of the greatest of all times
Mike Tyson had kind and humble words after the Holmes fight. 👍🏻
Tyson was forntunate to fight a washed up Larry Holmes.
That tyson beats any holmes 100% guaranteed @@Rayburn58
Holmes was 38 yrs old
And retired during 2 years
@@b.7353 That's right as most champion boxers aren't washed up at age 38. It's just a question of the reflexes remaining intact. Roy Jones junior was the earliest I'd ever seen a champion boxer's relaxes go at the tender age of just 36.
So wrong to say if he was black he wouldn't have been anybody as a boxer. When Jay Leno asked George Foreman who ever hit him the hardest, he said without a doubt, Cooney!
He said he couldn't believe how hard he was getting hit by Cooney. He thought he had better end it as fast as he could. Cooney had beaten men that had beaten both Foreman and Ali !
How? Gerry beat an old as hell Ken Norton. An old Ron Lyle.
He fought a much older George Forman and got stopped. Just because he hits hard doesn’t mean he’s a great boxer. Gerry was good and had a lot of potential, but let’s not act like his skin color didn’t contribute to his success.
Yea boii have a nice day everyone!
Holmes left jab was like a pole
The best in boxing history.🥊
I though Cooney made a great showing here. for a KO artist he was not trying to beat Holmes with single shots but was doing good body work and putting some good combinations together. He certainly deserved to share the ring with this all time great Eastern Assassin.
You forgot to mention the low blows
easton
@@asmrnaturecat984
Easton Assassin as in Easton, PA
I won't go that far in praising Cooney. He wasn't a bum but never developed his chin. Never developed his right hand. He couldn't win
Prime Larry Holmes was unstoppable..Cooney was ok, but Larry was quite simply great and absolutely devastating with that lightening fast jab and critical right hand. Larry had excellent movement as well..he was too much for Cooney.
Holmes was a great boxer
Gerry had a great left hook, but you need to be a lot better to beat prime Holmes. Larry was a BMF
With a telegraph pole jab and that crushing overhand right, great chin and ability to recover a prime Larry Holmes could give any Heavyweight of any era a serious problem.🥊
@@ericmccaulley5008 He was a great boxer, no doubt about it.
Larry. Holmes
Didn't lose until he was almost 36 years old
Was 48-0
Probably the most underrated fighter in boxing history, and he was champion for 7 years!
He certainly fought much better boxers than the bums today in the heavyweight division.
Great to know that Larry and Gerry post fight developed a long lasting friendship as Larry had helped Gerry out during a dark period in his life.
This one still upsets me that they had the nerve to announce the champion larry first and not last. The racism and favoritism was so blatant the president even called cooney to wish him good luck. Very cathartic watching holmes turn cooney into a bobblehead that night
I think there are much worse examples of racism against ordinary people that should upset us before we become too upset about celebrity sportsmen like Larry Holmes
@@michaelb2388spot on
Right Prejudice Reagan even invited Cooney to the White House if he won, but didn’t invite Holmes if he won
@@Reese8531 Ronald Reagan was the same kind of bigot that Donald Trump is. A smiling, likeable BIGOT.
@@michaelb2388 its a reflection of how blacks were generally treated at that time as an afterthought
Ahhhhh, the good old days. I miss them. I don't even really follow boxing now and don't hear much about the sport.
Loved watching Larry Holmes fight when I was a kid. One of the all time greats
Holmes always tried to be charismatic like Ali but always sounded mentally challenged. But in the ring he's definitely top 3 in all time history (Ali,Louis and Holmes).
Not to get techno or nothing, but facts!
Not challenged, just boring and blue collar.
You have to put big george in that company
After winning the heavyweight title Larry Holmes foolishly tried unsuccessfully to imitate Muhammad Ali. But those who knew boxing realized Cooney wasn’t going to win.
One of my all time favorite fighters Larry Holmes. Upthere with my other favorites like George Foreman, Marvin Hagler, Wilfred Bazooka Gomez, Tommy Hearns, Salvador Sanchez and Miguel Cotto.
Holmes was a GREAT fighter. Cooney had such great potential....too bad he didn't have the heart for the game.
He had the heaet only He got push too fast because hes white
Both are underrated. If Foreman says Cooney is one of the hardest hitters, then...
That fight was Close Gerry Cooney almost Matched Holmes. Great Fight
Competitive but not “close”.
Big Gerry was a tuff dude very dangerous opponent one punch knock out power to bad he never got a rematch with Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes was a great fighter one of the greatest along with Big George Foreman and the real deal Evander Holyfield my favorite heavyweight boxers of all times
All those fights from the 80's are the Best I saw this fight when I was 16 awesome Boxers!
Prime Holmes was no joke.
Cool to see Holmes and Cooney goofing around together years later.
Thank you so much for this content! It has been a while watching similar doc. Thru TV. “Great White Hope” movie based on this fight! I love it. Thank you again!
Before the fight started Larry was introduced first and you could see his corner was upset . But Larry remain cool and went about getting ready for the fight. That small moment in boxing history showed his commitment to boxing.
Cooney’s career unfortunately ended after the holmes fight
he didn't have the heart after the holmes fight.
@@johngrimkowski598 Maybe it was all too much for him. I mean, information indicates he didn't like the promotional line (black vs white), apparently he had problems with his father too. Or maybe going 12 rounds with Larry was the best he could do etc.
What an incredible fight! Frightening power from 2 fighters at their peak.
14:48 I always recognize that even though Tyson wasn’t a perfect guy he often was a class act back then, you can see that even when he knocks someone out he goes to check on him and help em up, boxing is so sportsmanlike
Larry Holmes one the great heavyweights of his era The best left jab in boxing.A warrior
Holmes underrate to this day
Coony did real well. Took a heaps of shots
Holmes was never entertaining like Ali or Mike Tyson. He just went in the ring and outlasted his opponents.
Wonderful Vanessa for you like fight of boxe and understand very good
Cooney was good but got pushed too fast. If he developed from better training and his corner wasn't trash he might have ended up better.
Holmes was a good champion in a relatively weak era. Not his fault, it is what it is.
Cooney was caught in a trap as far as competition. There just wasn't that much out there that was quality that he hadn't beaten already and the others had more to lose by fighting him than they would gain. Better management and training definitely would have helped. Dude was a beast.
Cooney got 10mil for his fight with Holmes. In 1982. That’s the equivalent to 32mil today.
And you think his team did him wrong? That’s about the best conceivable management of a fighter to get him that cash out money early in his career, before he took any real damage.
Cooney had an excellent left hook, but he wasn't ready. No right hand. No chin. Pushed way to fast. Lots of good but not great heavyweights in the early 80s. Cooney fought none of them. To get a title shot and top billing bc he beat an unmotivated Jimmy Young. A washed up Ron Lyle and an old & semi retired Norton. Cooney had no chance of winning this fight but was on the cover of Time & Sports Illustrated. 🤦♂️
If it was a 12 round fight Oscar would’ve won.
Larry was a great champion & he proved it.
I hope he eventually gets the credit he deserves because he’s one of the greatest of all time
God Bless You Larry Holmes and Jerry Cooney !
Jerry had style and good footwork, well trained
Homes was the Goat in the 80,s
i remember gerry hanging out with mark and joe and him jogging on the streets of Huntington LI
Holmes was indeed “the package” and besides his physical strength and training possessed a great vocabulary of punches. Cooney was indeed an undefeated leviathan going into this fight. His (mis)handlers did him no favors by feeding into the disrespectful fight promotion behaviors. In fact, if Cooney’s (mis)handlers had followed Cooney’s genuine personality and treated Homes with respect, there is a valid argument that Holmes’ resolve would have been lessened going into (and during) the fight. Cooney landed many massive bombs that may have demoralized a less-agitated Homes.
People hated Larry for beating Ali so bad; hell, he did also and cried after winning. Besides that pointless beef, we all love him.
he didn't beat Ali so bad though, he actually went easy on him because he knew how far gone Ali was (and because he loved him)..
I`ve never forgotten what George Foreman said after his fight with Cooney: He said;.." About
30 seconds into the first round Cooney threw a left hook to my body, I blocked it with my
right arm;.....the power went through my arm and into my body and within seconds left me
feeling dizzy." That is terrifying power.
I think the terrifying power on display that night was from big George...
@@itsinthetreesitscoming7431 There has never been any doubt about George`s power, but he later admitted he had been physically shocked
by the power of Cooney`s hooks.
He was called the "Great white hope" back then.. watched it live on HBO.
I met Larry Holmes he came to iliinois to an amateur show, he took pictures with everyone and all the fighters after our fights
Definitely in the top five all time greats,if other people think otherwise then they know nothing about boxing simple as that!!
Nice to see em both at the end messing about as older men
Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes 3 best ever heavyweight champions in boxing history, IMO. Followed by champs like Foreman, Marciano, Frazier, Johnson, Dempsey, Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis, Liston, Vitale and Wladimir Kitschko, etc. I think Larry deserves to be in top 3. He would beat all the others. Great jab, great movement, tough guy and fast heavy hitting hands and strong inside. Strong and smart very quick handed with good power. Best jab of all in heavyweight history, IMO.
I watched him train in his gym in Easton in the early 1980s when I was a 16 year old kid. Very cool guy to his fans. Larry took time and took pictures with us and talked with all of us there, signed autographs, etc. all the fans who stayed to meet him after his workout/shower get out of gym trunks and come back dressed in clothes, etc., joking and laughing, real nice guy. A true champion.
Both Klitschko brothers were bums and never made the transition from amateur to professional boxing. Lewis mopped the floor from pillar to post with one of them before retiring.
@@parkerbohnn I would put the Klitscko brothers in top 15 or so best ever hevywweights, not in top ten.
@@parkerbohnn Lewis is better IMO than the Klitschkos. Lennox fought Vitale at the end of Lennox's career. Vitale was ahead on the cards when the fight was stopped
Because Klitschko's injury was a result of punches from Lewis, Lewis was named the winner of the fight by technical knockout. Klitschko was ahead 58-56 on the scorecards with two judges giving Lewis only rounds three and six and the other rounds five and six. Yet, Lennox deserved the win stopping Vitale.
Holmes had the faster hands
If you know boxing, you know that Larry Holmes is one of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time. He is top 5, no doubt about it.
Then he starred in From Dusk Till Dawn, and the rest is history.
Holmes was amazing
what a fight!
Great dude and all time great and under rated fighter
Holmes was great but he encountered a prime Tyson.
@@saltiresteel6647 As I wrote, Tyson was in his prime. It seems you are reading things that aren't even there.
An old Larry Holmes with an almost 2 year lay off, encountered a prime Mike Tyson.
Thats better.
@@SmoothLife. Larry feared losing a tune-up fight.
Holmes was miles past it.
It should never have happened, but ego get's a lot of great fighters a beating....
Maintaining the dark underbelly of Professional Boxing is ever present, especially when anyone addresses Clooney aa Gentleman Gerry Clooney the "family jewels hunter." OH, he's a gentleman alright...
Tyson is right, he wouldn't stand a chance against a younger Holmes. Tyson never had the ability to come back from a knockdown.
Where difference between good and great fighters. Mike is a good boxer but not a great boxer.
Best jab ever , Grate champion 👍🏼
The Eastern assassin
I was very young when this fight took place but I remember the great white hype that was all over sports before the fight. Sports media truly wanted Cooney to win.
What a timing!
One helluva fight!
Holmes was a great champ . People never gave him respect. I think because he beat Ali . I always liked him and respected what he did in the ring . Plus like Cooney and like listening to he radio show on Sirius
You are great Mr Holmes. Big respects.
Man they both were bombing. Cooney could compete with Todays HW not named Usyk.
Cooney would have steamrolled any of the bums today in the heavyweight division. The heavyweight division has been in the dark ages ever since that bum Klitscho was champion.
Gerry Cooney never mattered
Larry was great. One of the best in his prime.
Waiting for the “the night daniel dubois showed zero respect against anthony joshua” video😭
Much respect to Tyson after beating Holmes and not gloating.
I loved Larry Holmes. He did not get the respect that he should have gotten. He followed Muhammad Ali and Ali was very political and was promoted by the liberal media unlike Holmes who kept politics out of boxing. Larry fought every challenger that was presented and beat them. He was 48 W and 0 L when he sustained his first loss.
Great champion
Great Fight.
Gerry Cooney was The Great White Hope of the 1980's
Took down Ron Lyle in 1 round
Then ended Ken Norton's career, so he deserved the shot
He put up a great fight, going 13 rounds with the best heavyweight of the 1980s
Larry Holmes' style was heavily inspired by Ali ❤️ A much stronger version of Ali !
Larry Holmes was a great champion best jab I've ever seen got knockdown got back up and won a champions heart confidant and if I remember was Muhammad Ali sparring partner! A Great Champion 👍.
LOOONG TIME WHEN BOXING WAS REAL 😂😂😂
The 1980's and 1920's were the last good era's for boxing.
A true champion, Tyson recognizes the outcome of the fight would have been different if Holmes had been in his prime.
On top 7 years!
Larry Holmes is perhaps the greatest heavyweight champion. Larry took on all comers in a brutal heavyweight era, he dodged no one. ali dodged Holmes while he was taking on a chump like Leon Spinks among others in the mid-late 70's. He chose Spinks over Holmes becasue he knew he couldn't handle Larry. Ali only chose to fight Holmes when he was washed up and he could use that as an excuse. Holmes was a humble soft spoken man, not a big mouth showman like ali and the medai held that against him. The media couldn't milk Holmes with big money hype like they could with ali. The media and most boxing fans were against Holmes when Cooney came around and Larry fought a typical Larry Holmes fight. Holmes methodically took Cooney apart with the caution and respect Cooney deseverd with the punching power he had.
This is when heavyweights was the real deal
I was young when this fight happened. Jerry Cooney got his ass beat.
Larry holmes by far was the better fighter