George Foreman vs Gerry Cooney | BLACK HISTORY MONTH FREE FIGHT

As we wrap up our Black History Month Celebration, look back in 1990 when #GeorgeForeman had a vicious knockout of Gerry Conney in this classic heavyweight bout. #BHM
Next Up for Top Rank Boxing, the homecoming of former unified junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez is happening. Central Valley native Ramirez will fight former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza in the 12-round main event Friday, March 4 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
Ramirez and Pedraza were scheduled to fight Saturday, Feb. 5, but Pedraza tested positive for COVID-19.
In the six-round heavyweight special feature immediately before the main event, Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., from the Central Valley town of Tulare, California, will make his long-awaited professional debut. The 10-round co-feature will see the Top Rank debut of featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez, who will fight Filipino veteran Jeo Santisima. The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.
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[@edwin9210]

That walk-in uppercut, Classic George Foreman. The last breed of the 70s all time greats.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

The 4 uppercuts before that were brutal as well. Cooney was in trouble once Foreman unlocked the uppercuts, which started with two in quick succession at 5:04. Then another which is called by the commentator. Then the big one which puts him on the way to the knockdown. Then the finisher.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Even back to the 60s really, he won the gold medal in 1968 and had his first professional fight in 1969. The he retired 2.5 years before the 2000s !!

[@yksikaksikolmen]

And effortless

[@michaelmohrle1773]

@@yksikaksikolmen Effortless, but vicious!

[@heath6809]

Definitely one of the coolest looking techniques in boxing. That and his wild right shot to the kidney that he’s knocked so many people out with.

[@bossplayermfs5972]

Big George Foreman was a walking powerhouse 💪🏽💪🏽👊🏽👊🏽.

[@dondajulah4168]

I love how he walks over to Cooney and just casually takes him out with the uppercut left and right hand over the top to finish him off. Gotta be a scary sight to see Big George on top of you with his feet squared up and his arms pulled back ready to unload like a cannon.

[@vinnievenus3570]

I love what the very tough smoking bert cooper said after quitting against george foreman in his fight against big george in George's comeback. Cooper said this. .after the beginning of round 3 I think. Cooper said this. """ I AIN'T GOING OUT THERE ANYMORE. HES A BIG GUY. AND CLEARLY DANGEROUS THOSE PUNCHES MIGHT KILL ME."""

[@JamesJohnson-kx8pi]

MO

[@michaelmohrle1773]

THE most powerful, Earnie Shavers was good too but who was a 2x Champ ? Big George Foreman the most powerful of them all !!!

[@rainynight6914]

Like a Titan

[@miketheminer4351]

Big George is on the "Mount Rushmore" of Boxing! He's one of the Best Ever! True Legend of the Sport!

[@vinnievenus3570]

Yeah.. probably. But it's funny... george knew when to hang the gloves up. If george had met shannon Briggs at the point in time in this existence, when he fought cooney? Shannon would have been seeing stars. George's stars. For quite a while. As would almost anyone. Little known stat. About the great muhammad ali. He bested foreman. Fair and square. In Zaire? In 1974? I think. It's TRUE. But it's interesting. A little known comment George said afterthe ali fight is this. "" muhammad, I know how you beat me. And trust me. If we tangle again you'll never beat me again."" What did george mean by that ? I quess we'll never fully know. But I think we all know what George meant. Ali smartly did the rope av dope. And voted big george into his style of fight. If ali had tried to take george on all out? Right away? Ali would have been toast. Credit to ali for being a smart fighter. All round. Recently though, in an interview, foreman was asked if he thought he stood a chance against lennox lewis at his age. George laughingly replied "" are you kidding me? That young man would kill me." I'm safer here. By my foreman grill. Cooking hamburgers! Thank you very much! Lol!

[@paleo704]

@@vinnievenus3570 IMO Foreman won that fight with Briggs

[@sleepinggiant4102]

@@vinnievenus3570 Personally I think there was more than meets the eye to that fight with Ali in Zaire. Foreman has written in his memoirs that the night of the fight in Zaire he felt he was doped by his coach and that his water tasted funny. Forman said by the early rounds he felt as if he was exhausted like it was the 15th. I also heard Ali stated that he would only fight George again if he kept the same trainer… also watch the count. George was up by 8 or nine and the ref waved him off already. I admire Muhammed Ali but he also cheated In the fight with Gary Cooper. Ali’s own coach admitted to splitting the gloves during the fight.

[@jonburrows8602]

@@sleepinggiant4102 You forgot to add that the ropes were made abnormally loose, allowing for his rope a dope. After the 1960s, Ali used employed many questionable, bordering on unethical tactics to defeat younger as talented opponents. Or he would get soundly beaten, like in his 3rd fight with Ken Norton or his fight with Jimmy Young, and still get the decision.

[@helmberteisenschnauzer7233]

@@jonburrows8602 Young ducked out of the ropes every time Ali finally got the opportunity to get to work on him. That is against the rules. The ref warned him repeatedly until at some point he had seen enough and counted the next one as a knockdown. Young's head was within the ropes in no time. It still counted as a knockdown. Young had a ton of points deducted for this behaviour. That is why he lost. He did not beat Ali "soundly". Young was smart. Against someone like Foreman, such tactics would never have worked because such big punchers simply destroy your body when your head is out of the ropes. But against Ali, a pure headhunter par excellence, he smartly figured it might work. Young was also dumb. Because when the ref started warning him he still stuck to a strategy that was bound to fail.

[@lendrury2771]

George is so powerful that it doesn't even look like he's throwing the punches hard but every interview I've seen with fighters who got knocked by George says it like getting hit with a brick . He's just a powerful guy

[@MM-hf6om]

@Thou Swell I thought that fight was fixed until they took his mouth peace out and his gums were split wide open

[@user-uo8yh9tb8g]

Ha, understatement... may have been the physically strongest heavyweight ever! That's a sneaky move he does on the final combination too.... it's like, "oh, you're still here? BOOM----------------

[@ninjaiden9567]

I have Gerry Cooney’s phone number

[@robhutton6916]

Those final 2 punches were brutal. Wow.

[@user-uo8yh9tb8g]

@@robhutton6916 This is pretty much when George, 2.0 went from comical circus bear, to a not so-comical grizzly bear... everybody always knew it only took one punch from this guy to end you

[@erikrichardgregory]

Combine young Foreman power and strength with his older intelligence and, wow, you get the most unbeatable juggernaut in boxing history

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Exactly.

[@chubbycatfish4573]

He would have been 85-0

[@erikrichardgregory]

@@chubbycatfish4573 yeah, can you imagine a guy holding the heavyweight championship for 20 YEARS??? And Foreman could have done just that. The guy was a freak of nature…even today’s roided-up fighters were not as strong

[@michaeltabor2077]

I’ve said that so many times!

[@NeoIsAFreeMan]

​@@chubbycatfish4573 No, 100-0 my guy😂

[@rabblelevin6923]

I'm glad Cooney survived that punch. Not joking. A brutal uppercut.

[@giffysstiffy8874giffytuck]

It happens...no big deal🙂. Cooney almost KILLED Ken Norton☠️. Cooney had tremendous power and he had Holmes VERY HURT but didn't go after Holmes as hard as he could and should have.

[@earlhowardiii8277]

@@giffysstiffy8874giffytuck Why the fuck are some you laying Cooney's greatest moment on knocking out a old washed up Norton?....Norton was 37 and had already been in countless of wars with great fighters...He would have destroyed Cooney in his prime

[@skepchica]

​@@giffysstiffy8874giffytuckHe wobbled Foreman 2.0 harder than anyone else did. Cooney could definitely hit. But that walk by uppercut was just viscious. 😵

[@angeloiodice9304]

George said after the fight that Cooney was one of the hardest punchers he ever fought. He said that Cooney’s punches made his bones vibrate and his whole body went numb. That is why George realized he better end the fight quick.

[@Storm-uo3wr]

Actually in another interview George said Ron Lyle the hardest hitter who knocked George down 2 times before George knocked him out

[@angeloiodice9304]

@@Storm-uo3wr Yeah, but described by George, the affect different punchers had on him was different. Lyle, he said, just knocked him down and he felt nothing. But, Cooney was a shocking vibration, and George said that he had to try and get rid of him fast to not endure that punishment. Many are shocked to hear that Cooney had that punch. He was in his prime when he fought Holmes, and Holmes had no problem. Surprisingly, Ali convinced himself before the Zaire fight that George wasn’t swinging as powerful an axe as everybody thought, just because Joe Frazier went down and came back up a few times. But, then again, look at what Old George did to Michael Moorer. Jeez, lights out, good night, and “We have a new Heavyweight World Champion, BIG GEORGE FOREMAN!!!”

[@shawndayvis6169]

George was only being nice....George didn't want to be villianized like Liston...the pitfalls of his early life when he beat 5 guys in the ring was entertaining but a disaster for big George.

[@ezsmith3765]

George was only being nice 🤣😂 Look everyone this dork knows George personally

[@angeloiodice9304]

@@ezsmith3765 Because some of us have been watching him from the late 1960’s. He only mentioned a few boxers with sledgehammers, and Cooney is one of them. No reason for him to say it if it was not true. He didn’t say it about his many other competitors and sparring partners.

[@KD-nb3mp]

Foreman said that cooney is in the top 3 of the hardest hitters he ever fought.

[@Storm-uo3wr]

Yeah but what would Jerry say about how it feels getting hit by George

[@realMaverickBuckley]

@@Storm-uo3wr Ouch?

[@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069]

@@Storm-uo3wr he wouldn't remember

[@mathematics22c61]

@@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069 💀

[@josenieves62]

That’s why foreman went for the casual kill early in the fight had it went on Cooney would’ve been hell to deal wit later on in the fight

[@brenwalsh9232]

That finishing left uppercut was monstrous.....absolute beast of a shot. Cooney was out from it, and motionless.....and then the overhand right to add to the pain

[@michaelmohrle1773]

This is what made Tyson want nothing to do with Big George !!! Foreman would have killed 5'10 212 lb Tyson !!!

[@jonathandewberry289]

Why are you describing what everyone watched someone else did? As if you're 'instructing' somehow?

[@joanmjames2495]

@@michaelmohrle1773 But he's right. And it's a free country, well supposed to be 😒

[@joanmjames2495]

@@michaelmohrle1773 Yep! He would have, hands down.

[@davidantiwan930]

Foreman way to powerful for mike

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

Cooney living up to his 'Gentleman' nickname in his interview at the end. What a nice guy!

[@tjseard1527]

No. I watched this fight tha night it was aired. Because tha media was calling him tha great white hope and he loved it. With his stupid Irish hat on.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@tjseard1527 What has that got to do with what I said?

[@tjseard1527]

That he had to be a gentleman because he was a bum

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@tjseard1527 Right... It's time for you to join my list of blocked trolls.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

@@ppuh6tfrz646 It's maddening just how many people are lacking even rudimentary comprehension skills, right? Yes sir, Cooney is a gentleman.

[@CuzCutz]

@5:53 Ladies and Gentlemen, the “No look” uppercut! One of the coolest punches EVER!

[@skepchica]

Still the slickest thing I've ever seen in boxing.

[@tookiezzz2898]

He dang near took his head off . .

[@johnnoone4323]

I remember this fight because it was held in the local area where I lived. I never imagined this fight going the distance. To me, if either fighter landed a hard blow, it would be over within 1-4 rounds or almost immediately. In looking at this a second time, George Foreman was getting punches in and Cooney was not blocking. Cooney got some hard punches in but Foreman seemed like he was used to getting hit hard. Foreman proved himself to be a better puncher; and could adapt better. I liked both boxers because they were not brash or braggers. Congratulations to George Foreman who needs to be ranked in the same class as Joe Louis and Muhammed Ali.

[@gabbyjay68]

Love big George what a fighter and man , damn it was fun being a boxing fan in the 80s and 90s George was great entertainment

[@vincentbarbeau3031]

Two real hard punchers. George is really one of the greatest heavyweight in history. Incredible man.

[@stevenmiller461]

Ali got a lucky punch in on george but i guess thats all it takes with these big guys.

[@jonburrows8602]

@@stevenmiller461 Ali simply tricked him. Ali had the ropes loosed beyond normal parameters so that he could do his "Rope-A-Dope" and have George tire himself out.

[@redcargaming3065]

@@jonburrows8602 Bullshit. Watch the fight again you'll see George getting outboxed and getting beaten. Ali only tired Foreman out in rounds 7 and 8 before that he was outboxing the hell out of Big George. People watch youtube vids of that fight and call it a day, Watch the whole damn fight

[@helmberteisenschnauzer7233]

@@jonburrows8602 before the fight the ropes were even more lose. It was Angelo Dundee (Ali's trainer) who brought this to the attention of those who set up the ring, thus getting them tightened up as well as those present could. So no. Not everything is a conspiracy. The ring was set up by people who were very inexperienced. And yes. Ali was ahead on all scorecards by the time George fell.

[@bigd5899]

@@redcargaming3065 even if foreman was outboxed in the beginning it didn’t really matter. Most of his ko‘s follow the same pattern. He keeps piling on small shots, then lands a often lucky stunning punch followed by a knockdown combo. Against ali foreman was landing his jabs. Just a question of time when ali would have turned numb. Going for the ropes was a lifesaving decision for ali imo.

[@brianpress1392]

Big George Always had So Much Class in the Ring, as Far as I'm Concerned. A Real Champion 🏆👍

[@chuckemeade]

Not so much the first time around he talked more than once about killing someone in the ring and seemed to mean it.

[@brianpress1392]

@@chuckemeade Ya, I remember Him saying that, and You are Right. He was pretty savage back then. 👍

[@skepchica]

Maybe not so much the second, either. That overhand right after the uppercut was brutal af.

[@dougmcconnell3992]

The difference is that George had become Christian by the time he started the second chapter of his career. Look at the scowl on his face in pictures from his early years and compare that to his constant smiles later. Jesus really does fill people with joy and transforms their lives.

[@williamoneill5498]

The way Foreman came relentlessly forward in this match said a lot. To me Cooney looked a bit scared from the start, like a kid poking a sleeping Lion with a sharp stick and hoping it wouldn't wake up. Cooney had a decent shot, but Foreman decided that his jaw was better and like Pac Man on steroids he went constantly forward with sledgehammer hands, and went about battering Cooney down and out. Of all the great boxers I love, Foreman is my favourite, a total gentleman and wonderful boxer.

[@tonyvincent9753]

I feel the same way. George may not be the all time greatest, but he’s my all time favorite.

[@JayYo21]

When did Manny pop for steroids?

[@contempris2383]

@@JayYo21 Several fighters with Pacquaio's nutrition coach pissed hot. Not to mention all of a sudden he started blasting guys out after The First Erik Morales fight. He began his boxing career at 105 is and was stopping guys up to 154. If GGG or Canelo started blasting out Cruiserweights and Some Smaller Heavyweights everyone would be immediately suspicious.

[@JayYo21]

@@contempris2383 well Canelo is a drug cheat who was suspended. PacMan never failed a drug test or was suspended. I’m not gonna speculate without something concrete

[@contempris2383]

@@JayYo21 Fair enough and wise. However, drug tests these days are really intelligence tests. Know when and where to cycle off. NFL Players rarely piss hot but with millions of dollars on the line. Training luke they do and taking those kind of hits. If they are just on Creatine and Whey Protein, I got a bridge to sell you in San Francisco

[@jthomasaustin]

Notice the commentators talking about a fight between Foreman and Tyson during and after this one? I don't think Tyson would have beaten Foreman in 1990. George was still a BEAST here. His jab was as strong as an overhand right.

[@callumcc8897]

Would of been a late tko for Foreman in 1990.

[@chicagomike4587]

Yep - The Tyson people wanted NONE of Foreman during this time (allegedly) - the jab/right hand was a problem, proper smothering and the fact that Foreman was still dangerous late while Tyson was only dangerous in the first several rounds - this all spelled "no thanks" from Tyson's management.

[@maofas]

Tyson was had issues with much lesser fighters than Foreman who had height plus a good jab.

[@jthomasaustin]

@@chicagomike4587 facts, the outcome would have been nearly identical to what happened when Foreman beat Joe Frazier.

[@shauntaylor6040]

No one beat George by trading with him, only by boxing him and basically messing him about, Ali, Young, Morrison.

[@JG-zs8tr]

9:43 How did Cooney’s head stay attached?? I can feel the right side of my neck tear just watching it.

[@dondajulah4168]

Probably not a good idea for Cooney to drop his head right into position for an uppercut for Foremans uppercut. Cant really blame him as he hadnt recovered from the knockdown, but your only option at that point is either to try to tie Foreman up or just stay on the canvas.

[@xavierjuno4572]

​@@dondajulah4168 I mean even if you could tie Foreman up, he'd just manipulate your guard leaving you open to the uppercut anyway, and yes Foreman was so powerful that he could brute force someone's guard no problem

[@VAHOSS]

I respect the fact that Cooney said this is it and he meant it..... he never boxed professionally again

[@drumtum]

True. You could see that he meant it, he was done.

[@seekersudarshan2078]

Shows how scary foreman is to take the fighting will out of a very good boxer like cooney

[@Ray-vq2jc]

Cooney was a bum and a fraud. He only cared about money.

[@victornewman3268]

George foreman was an absolute maniac..punches wit deadly intentions

[@johngiovine8792]

Both George Foreman and Jerry Cooney are a true credits to their sport, truly great boxers both!

[@pureuncutlakers1010]

Cooney wasnt great. Just saying, he wasnt.

[@user-wb5fq2ku5u]

​@@pureuncutlakers1010you do know he beat ken Norton and ken Norton broke Ali jaws

[@keenakaur6314]

@@pureuncutlakers1010 And maybe Gerry Cooney spelled his first name with a J, he just might be in a Seinfeld episode, for used cars. True fans of Seinfeld will get it.

[@earlhowardiii8277]

@@pureuncutlakers1010 FACTS!!!!!

[@earlhowardiii8277]

@@user-wb5fq2ku5u He beat a washed up, old Norton....I just watched the fight again a week ago....I saw the fight live on TV.....Gerry was never great...His followers wanted him to be great.....Only thing he's known for is getting knocked out

[@KeithFroehlich07]

And winks! 😉 The left uppercut at5:30 I thought Cooney's neck was going to rise like a rock'em sock'em robot. Just the sound of Foreman's left hitting Gerry's face, I can't believe he didn't shatter his nose. Probably the best punch he threw in his entire comeback from a skill standpoint. If he would have hit Tyson with that same shot he would have elevated out of the ring like the boxer does when you knocked him out on Ring King.

[@callumcc8897]

The one after was crazy

[@skepchica]

@callumcc8897 Thst overhand right was pure savagery. I don't know how everybody misses that.

[@RAK1959]

George's best Jersey Joe imitation. Just wandering over and crushing him with a left.

[@skepchica]

"Just wandering over" 😭😭😭

[@nekronbeast3981]

Both guys showed tremendous sportsmanship in gentleman ship

[@turdferguson7264]

Dang, Big George was so heavy handed. Any word on whether Cooney has landed back on earth yet after that uppercut?

[@twatttheworldaccordingtoto4339]

Wasn't your name Burt Reynolds before you changed it on Jeopardy?

[@turdferguson7264]

@@twatttheworldaccordingtoto4339 Ahh, you got me!!

[@jtm0071]

Foreman said Cooney was the hardest puncher he ever fought.

[@sandpeat]

Last I heard Cooney is still lying there today

[@paulreed2642]

Lmao 🤣

[@streetgossipnews1049]

Best walk up Knockout 🤣🤣🤣

[@rickisunak]

Imagine the current crop having to deal with any version of Big George. Blimey.

[@victoriagonzalez4559]

George foreman in this era gos undefeated at 80-0 and defends his title over 40 times 😂😂🤣🤣. Big George runs over everyone.

[@fedorpride6397]

axel schulz did very good against old foreman and was robbed. biggs,holyfield and morrison beat him. old george foreman would not be unbeatable today at all.

[@victoriagonzalez4559]

@@fedorpride6397 😂😂 Who today beats him ?

[@fedorpride6397]

@@victoriagonzalez4559 what makes you think that the old version of foreman would beat fury,usyk,wilder,joshua,dubois,joyce etc if he struggled with shannon biggs and axel schulz?

[@tom11zz884]

He can be beat, you just have to stick and move and be in great shape.

[@billthestinker]

Foreman was moving very quickly in this fight and not letting Cooney set and get off because Cooney is also a tremendous puncher, George became a much smarter fighter in his second career

[@kafelaroux504]

Ok expert

[@BigLouJo_XVI]

You mean, he was a much smarter fighter after coming out of retirement back in the mid-1980’s.

[@e.c.9468]

Yes... Before Come back he was just a wrecking ball. After come back he looked like a wrecking ball with some clue

[@delpage1]

@@e.c.9468 a slower wrecking ball with a clue though. Too bad he didn't have as much ring wisdom in the first part of his career. Would have been even scarier.

[@georgelabauve3469]

He was great up until Ali took him out. After that, he was mentally scathed, until his return which he had plenty of time to gather himself and reconcile with his past

[@user-ux8yh9ow3k]

I remember being puzzled as to why George threw that right hand (5:56). The next day in the paper George was quoted as saying; "I don`t like to hit a man when he`s dizzy, but he (Cooney) is such a devastating puncher I wasn`t taking any chances."

[@DragonDon31]

That uppercut tho, Cooney's ancestors felt that one. Best KO ever. Being hit by Big George is probably equivalent to getting hit by a 2×4...

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Yeah, his ancestors probably spilled their pints of Guinness all over the pub !!!

[@ezsmith3765]

Worse than a 2x4

[@joshbarrett2212]

My grandmother was cooneys Dads sister. Yes it hurt. Pride is a motherfucker. Lost, but was in the ring with foreman. Only a few can say that!

[@user-fd8im5jt5o]

I`ve read that some people in "boxing circles" consider Gerry Cooney`s left hook to the body as perhaps the single most powerful punch boxing has ever known. I`ll never forget what George said shortly after this bout, he said;..." About 50 seconds into the first round Cooney threw a left hook to my body, I managed to block it with my right arm,.......the power went through my arm and into my body and within seconds left me feeling dizzy". That is scary power indeed.

[@wlphantom]

Some of those left hooks from Cooney would have ko'd a normal fighter, but Foreman is an ATG. George did say in his biography that the punch Cooney wobbled him with was one of the hardest he'd ever taken.

[@annoyedatthis1]

True. Cooney blasted Foreman during the first round. The difference is Foreman could and did take it. When it was his turn to fire back, Cooney could not take what Foreman was dishing out.

[@dewaynemarcionette6112]

Been very few men that could handle George Foreman's power I wouldn't say to say if he would have fault Tyson he would have stopped Tyson

[@jml-rj5re]

@@dewaynemarcionette6112 Tyson knew that. He wanted no part of Big George.

[@harryheath9928]

Even though he got blasted unconscious Cooney hammered Big G with some huge hooks to the head and body and G just took them and brushed them off

[@adamryamizard5560]

@Thou Swell he could. His style is to smother fighters like Tyson.

[@carspiv]

“The Geezers at Caesar’s”. That last right hand was like driving in a nail. Cooney almost went clear through the floor of the ring.

[@slaphead8835]

Big George simply demolished Gerry Cooney. Such accurate and powerful punching. It was a pleasure to watch and I appreciate the many different angles. Great post! I'm going to watch it again.

[@user-bf1ry9mr9w]

Ali was genious, it was the peak of Foreman that he vanguished the monster. Norton and Frazier were no jokes.

[@markmathis336]

That walking uppercut is one of the most iconic punches thrown by George. However, that over hand right following the uppercut was absolutely devastating.

[@informer3evans797]

This was the best physical shape George was in during his comeback years. I truly believe had he fought Tyson, Lewis, Bowe, or Holyfield the night he fought Cooney he would have won. Lewis and Bowe too green at this point. Holyfield not fully grown into heavyweight. Tyson fighting too much like Joe Frasier. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

[@nikolailic431]

Big George would be a serious problem for all these guys you mentioned.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

All I can say is That's Right !!!! (Heard George say that on HBO haha)

[@Flint92]

Not taking anything away from George, but you put too much stock on how he looked against a person that was done before this fight in Cooney.

[@erichvonmolder9310]

Wow Gerry Cooney, haven't heard that name in a long time. Foreman was just too strong.

[@williambarnes4612]

Kinda like usa beat germany a couple of times 😄

[@tubey84]

I honestly rate this as the single best heavyweight knockout of all time. I know it's against limited opposition and he was a static target, but still. A walk up lead uppercut of pure savagery but delivered after a barrage for the first knockdown that was delivered with terrifying calmness. Foreman was a monster in both stages of his career for very different reasons.

[@papalegba6796]

Watch Walcott vs Charles, same KO. Eubanks did similar to Watson too.

[@jthomasaustin]

I have to be fair to Gerry Cooney, he was a really good fighter, in my opinion he'd be possibly the most dangerous fighter in this era if we could put him here in his prime, but that's double for Larry Holmes and George Foreman, the two men who destroyed him.

[@tubey84]

@@jthomasaustin Oh I wasn't disrespecting Cooney as a fighter, I just meant at this stage of his career - he fought Foreman here in 1990, eight years after Holmes and a shadow of his former self.

[@21GunStudio]

And Michael Spinks vs Marvin Johnson - watch it if you haven’t (4th round I think)

[@Thats-What-We-Dewwwww]

@@jthomasaustin I’m sorry but Cooney wouldn’t even be a TV fighter in this modern era.

[@drumtum]

This is a classic. George was great!

[@yuljohnson1321]

Man, merciless KO! The way Cooney fell on his shoulder after that 2nd knockdown in the 2nd.

[@WaiSoeThein]

Roy Foreman, brother of George, said Cooney fight is the only one George had to use his full power during his comeback. George was really hurt in the first round and had to turn on Young George Foreman mode. Cooney is 6' 7" and a tremendous puncher with formidable boxing skills. Imagine the outcomes of this 41-year-old Foreman against today heavyweights.

[@paleo704]

Makes it all the more incredible that Michael Spinks. A LHW, was able to KO Cooney

[@eoinwalsh4026]

Sphinks was over 200lbs?

[@ravenaussie3760]

Fury would beat George Foreman.

[@WaiSoeThein]

@@ravenaussie3760 By points maybe.

[@ravenaussie3760]

@@WaiSoeThein Fury could use the same tactic Ali did to beat Foreman.

[@Jaecht88]

GEORGE FOREMAN connecting three or four punches in a row and YOU ARE OUT. (normal people are dead I guess)

[@twatttheworldaccordingtoto4339]

I don't care what month it is, I like George Foreman!

[@richardjames4512]

" Cooney is my best friend, I love him and I knocked him out and I'll knock mike Tyson out. I like him too".😂

[@tetra3000]

Cooney got destroyed after being protected in his first 25 fights first came Holmes then Spinks then Foreman

[@matthewnikitas2904]

I wouldn’t say he was protected, but he made a name for himself by beating old fighters of the 70s who were at the end of their career like Norton Jimmy Young and Ron Lyle

[@billthestinker]

Big George did say on the David Letterman that Cooney was close to being his brother in terms of punching power, that is a mighty compliment.

[@tom11zz884]

@@billthestinker He didn't have Foreman's chin though...lol

[@billthestinker]

@@tom11zz884 that’s for sure

[@chuckemeade]

@@matthewnikitas2904 That's an indication of a protected fighter, fighting he never faced a contender in their prime or even close it cost him dearly because he learned very little on the way up the rankings..

[@peterparsons7141]

Foreman is such a class guy who really speaks the truth as he sees it. What he said was relevant to what happened. You could see that Cooney really nailed George with some very hard shots, and it was as if George changed gears..awesome is used a lot to describe things.. and that was.

[@dondajulah4168]

Foreman is unique in that he never really has appeared to be seriously hurt in the ring. Ron Lyle probably had Foreman in the most trouble, but in that fight, he did not appear at serious risk of being counted out. Seems like getting knocked down just made him more determined in that insatnce.

[@TheDrunkenGrape]

Foreman had the greatest second boxing career in boxing history. He was incredible in his comeback, especially at heavyweight.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

31-3 26 KOs ( Foreman's 2nd career record) is a career in itself! Not like now a comeback is some one time PPV crap vs some guy from another sport.

[@xavierjuno4572]

​@@michaelmohrle1773I mean if these were the stats of any other boxer I'd be impressed, but if you told me these were the stats of an old man making a comeback, I'd be gobsmacked

[@michaelmohrle1773]

@@xavierjuno4572 It's crazy, Joe Frazier's total career record is similar to George's 2nd, 32-4 27 KOs as an example of how many fights Foreman had as an older fighter.

[@RollingStoneZzzzz]

Big George...Thanks for the memories Champ 🏆❤ 🥊🥊

[@sisophous]

George Foreman is one of the most remarkable athletes in all of sports. He had tremendous punching power and a rock solid chin. And his punching power increased by a lot into his 40s compared to his 20s. Hard to figure. I think this Foreman would have beaten a prime Mike Tyson and that is saying something.

[@anthonymcken6050]

I think he would have dog walked Tyson and I'm a Iron Mike fan. Big George simply too big, strong and big clubbing power punches.

[@hardwurk2012]

I agree,I love Tyson but George was built different. A walking tank.

[@granddaddyofthemall6320]

@@anthonymcken6050 Tyson would eat Foreman up. Fore was big and slow no movement that style is Taylor- made for Tyson a mover is the only type of fighter would give Tyson problems.

[@user-nm4nx3hx3q]

​@@granddaddyofthemall6320nah, see what Foreman did to Frazier? Similar thing would happen to Tyson. Foreman could casually push tyson into his range then bam a heavy jab and Tyson is wobbled and you know what happens after.

[@CocaineCowboyJones]

And his chin became tougher and stronger too when he became 40

[@karlcooper7016]

Cooney looked like Tyson Fury In my mind but for a moment.

[@josephsolomon8623]

George Foreman punches are like getting hit by a train like thunder from the head right down to the toes

[@jdjohnston1960]

One of the most casual and ruthless finishes I've ever seen. Foreman just walks right through him and on the way by, nearly rips his head off with an uppercut, pivots and chops a frozen and leaning Cooney down with a right hand. Ho hum....

[@decidingpaper6324]

The most nonchalant KO in boxing history

[@v.l.c3979]

Two legends, respect to both fighters. 🥊

[@Wolverineman880]

Cooney is not a legend.

[@v.l.c3979]

@@Wolverineman880 well i myself feel like he's a legend Cooney fought some of the best boxers

[@Wolverineman880]

@@v.l.c3979 If he's a legend to you, that's good enough for me.

[@Wolverineman880]

@Thou Swell I prefer to call him the great white hype. An average boxer, maybe a C+. Generated a lot of money for boxing. Was probably overall and in general good for the division.

[@user-kv4xt2oh3d]

​@@Wolverineman880the thing is, he was much better than today's bums. I think he could be a champ today. He threw bombs.

[@tilerman]

Always hope boxers survive a beating to the head but when i watched this fight i did pray for Gerry at the end. He took some real heavy shots and went down hard and glad he was ok afterwards.

[@rc2869]

Loved Gerry for being one of the few fighters to properly take it to Holmes. They all lost to Larry but he left Nothing Out There. Big George wonderful puncher. Harder than all. A true gentleman. Respect to Both

[@Rightupbass]

They were set to rob Larry Holmes. Imgladhestopped that over rated Hope

[@mlalikwabiswalo7804]

Holmies was a monster no one could beat him in his prime

[@Rightupbass]

@@mlalikwabiswalo7804 man people musta forgot how wicked Holmes was bro.

[@mlalikwabiswalo7804]

@@Rightupbass holmies was not a normal person he could fight different styles speed and he could go all round with a constant attacking speed without delay.always holmies wanted to finish as soon as posible

[@rc2869]

@@mlalikwabiswalo7804 Agree. Sort of backs up my point. Most hoped to get lucky v Larry and didn't. Cooney in the ring tries to beat him up from bell 1.

[@michaelhubbard4023]

This fight was a classic while it lasted. Cooney was lucky that Foreman wasn't in his prime. It would have ended much quicker. Foreman is a very very heavy handed boxer. His punches look like concrete landing on a human body. That last uppercut look like the punch from hell. Once it landed it was lights out. After the fight , there were two total gentlemen in the ring. This is what boxing is all about.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Cooney wasn't in his prime either. Cooney was a good fighter in his prime and a big puncher.

[@brianallison1913]

That very last punch Foreman knocked him down for good with, he showed some great sportsmanship. He could have really blew his face off but just put enough into it to lay him down.

[@PushupsandSteps]

5:53 George looked like he walked in the room and said “Hold up. Let me finish this.”

[@force263]

Based solely on Foreman’s advanced age, which at the time iirc seemed to me likely to bottom out all at once, I thought Cooney was going to benefit again from facing an over-the-hill Alltime great heavyweight at the right time (if you’ve never before viewed, see: Cooney-Norton (1981). But watching now, it becomes PAINFULLY clear why Tommy Morrison hauled azz around the ring as if he was Willie Pep 😂 the night he managed to hang one of Big George’s 5 career losses on him (for career, George Foreman was 76-5. WOW 🤩, what a record! Especially considering that he fought many of those fights after he turned FORTY!). Cooney only fought sporadically, so I don’t consider this one of George’s signature wins or anything, especially considering how easy this was, which I found shocking, but Foreman shows here what a MASTER boxer he was at this point in his career. The very definition of a “PROFESSIONAL Boxer”. He was no great shakes or anything, but Cooney could always PUNCH, so this was never a risk-free proposition for Foreman. But the fact that Foreman & Cooney aren’t inthe same CLASS as boxers was the difference here.

[@markjackson6431]

that uppercut made me go…..OH

[@DougieFresh13]

That was vicious. The way he said Mike is my friend was scary. Big George is a legend.

[@fatman4346]

Only difference in this fight was that big George had much better punch resistance. Both hit as hard as each other.big George was a beast but cooney was so under-rated

[@johnroberts4444]

Big George will always be my top pick for the most devastating power ever put in a single punch or punches throw in a group . The man truly is destruction wearing gloves .

[@Kmac005]

Gerry Cooney, who built his career on KO'ing overaged fighters such as Ron Lyle and Ken Norton, was KO'd in his last fight against George Foreman, the oldest fighter he ever faced.

[@stevea6816]

Cooney KO'd Jimmy Young also on his way up. He still had devastating KO power in that left hook

[@nikolailic431]

Interesting fact. I watched fight with Lyle many times I think Ron just collected money and went down to avoid unnecessary punishment. 😄

[@PeekaPeep]

@@nikolailic431 Looked like the same thing Walcott did in his rematch against Marciano, lol!

[@fingling8]

Foreman's a prince of a guy. Best talk I've heard from him.

[@rap18k88]

They said his punches are slow and it has no power but if u get hit by that u feel ok and few seconds everything went numb and u go down

[@skepchica]

The punches are slow but they definitely have power. Like a train going 20 mph.

[@dondajulah4168]

@@skepchica The punches have good velocity at the point of impact. Just that they take a long time to get from the starting point to the destination because of the long wind up.

[@skepchica]

@@dondajulah4168 His jabs and uppercuts were pretty snappy.

[@jimred5700]

I recall after this fight George said..." In the first round Cooney threw a left hook. I blocked it with my right arm. The power went through my arm and into my body and within seconds it left me feeling dizzy." Frightening power.

[@victorflores960]

After so many years i find myself reminiscing over this bout, Big George was not just a boxer, he was a wall coming at you with brick fists pounding away, what made Cooney thinks that he could win this thing?

[@buttermegears53]

Cooney hits hard. George said that he had to put him down early to avoid getting himself clipped.

[@Zyrek1]

Cooney was only 33 years old here, but he looks closer to 50. I can't believe he's my age, he looks so old.

[@Kendo144k]

Bro the way that he just walked up so casually and throw that devastating uppercut, is just mind blowing

[@richyrich5049]

When I was a kid, this was the only George Foreman I knew. I didn’t know he fought when he was young.

[@richyrich5049]

@Thou Swell I missed out.

[@martysomoco]

Big George man handled Cooney in this fight. Tyson was so fortunate that he never fought George at this point in both their careers. George would have annihilated, embarrassed, and pulverized the smaller, weaker Mike Tyson - even if Mike bit off both George's ears.

[@sdprazak]

Two great gentlemen of the sport

[@pdm2201]

On the Letterman show George said the hardest punchers he had faced were Ron Lyle, Cleveland Williams (sparring partner) and Gerry Cooney. On another occasion he said the only man to back him up was Sonny Liston (sparring partner).

[@joanmjames2495]

Awesome stuff! Didn't know Foreman sparred with Cleveland Williams, The "Big Cat".

[@boybetterknow45]

its no surprise that Sonny was able to back up Big George, that man had cannon balls for fists

[@tom11zz884]

Foreman vs. Michael Spinks would have been an interesting fight.

[@markjackson6431]

KO in 3 rounds….he got his ass handed to him by Tyson

[@highnrising]

Interesting to see if Spinks would have landed on his face or on the back of his head. Check out Joe Frazier vs. Bob Foster to get an inkling of what happens to a light heavyweight going up against a power-punching heavyweight.

[@PushupsandSteps]

1:22 first jab 1:52 left hook 2:42 jab/ right hook 2:49 right hook 3:33 left jab/ right hook. I’m studying George’s style.

[@Godson0771]

Gerry Cooney a gentleman and a great dude 💯💯💯

[@liamsmith2340]

Stop that Casual bs

[@IronheartvsMiles]

pigskin got owned

[@Dpw20001]

​@@IronheartvsMileswhat happened when burnt tire skin Norton met cooney??

[@dumbdumber1885]

You like how cool he waltzed over and drilled Cooney with that upper cut? He knew he was gonna throw that punch before he even left his corner it looked like. Then one last punch before he hit the canvas just for good measure. The power. The man didn't have a chance.

[@jamesmorton5017]

The announcer guy doesn't understand . He said " Foreman hit him but it didn't do anything" . Foreman threw punches that froze opponents, though they didn't look damaging.

[@hoover2501]

I love George Foreman. Imagine if you could have combined the experience and the demeanor of the older George Foreman with the young physical George Foreman.

[@johntravis3500]

George is a true gentleman of the sport. Whenever he beat an opponent, there was no gloating. He always had something nice to say about his adversary after the fight.

[@jimred5700]

Yes, George was a class act.

[@LTDANMAN44]

listening to that thumping uppercut sent me to the hospital

[@chicagomike4587]

George is actually the GOAT now in my opinion - what he did was amazing. He gave Cooney a TON of credit for being one of the biggest punchers he ever faced - "Ron Lyle, Cleveland Williams and Gerry Cooney" was his 3 - I think it was on David Letterman.

[@shiningphantasy1393]

Although George had not fought Tommy Morrison yet at that time; I'd like to know if George puts Tommy in the same tier, even though Tommy fought George with more caution and finesse than most of his other opponents.

[@wedders8641]

Tom ducked and weaved to the win. He actually fought a very smart fight.

[@tybonds630]

That might have been the wickedest walk in upper cut ever thrown in a heavyweight fight. I remember feeling sorry for Cooney he could have stayed down after that previous combination.

[@dynjarren8355]

Cooney had the size and reach and on paper looked like he had a chance in this fight. But Foreman had the better upper body strength and harder punches so he beat him up basically. Knocked him out cold! That looked scary actually how hard he hit the canvas. They had to use smelling Salts to revive him. Wow!

[@donking5042]

Cooney was 6’7?! Wtf lol

[@anthonymcken6050]

I didn't know he was that tall either.

[@mwark00]

5:53 I like how both commentators said the same thing at the same time “OH THATS IT”.

[@MrFchank]

Two of the hardest punchers ever.

[@eboymorales3047]

5:55 that uppercut was like, Cooney run-over by a Train..

[@markdye5332]

The uppercut of dreams

[@markcollins7470]

In an interview Big George said the 2 hardest punchers he faced were Cooney and Ronnie Lyle!! He also said that he was delighted that he never fought Earnie Shavers!!! Damn there was some beasts in the ring in this era !!!

[@mrmoofle]

I think Foreman would've obliterated Shavers. Ernie could hit hard, but he didn't have a jaw that could've absorbed Foreman's punches.

[@xavierjuno4572]

​@@mrmoofleand not only that, but Foreman had power in both hands instead of Shaver's right hand (his power hand mind you)

[@lodowndirty92]

Looking at the post fight interview foreman wanted smoke with Tyson 🔥🔥😈

[@jonbathurst953]

Foreman looked so strong in this fight, I guess cause hes still in his 30s

[@hdmf]

He was actually 41 years old in this fight.

[@pattrell5257]

These guys were really fighting while it lasted...But, George could punch, was not afraid to let his hands go, and he could take a punch; these three things make you automatically respectable in any slugfest! And, Foreman never lost a slugfest!

[@peterpretentious4172]

"Now let's see if he's learned anything about how to survive cuz he's got a minute and 8 seconds left in- OH!" Guess he didn't. Wow. Absolutely brutal knockout.

[@seveglider8406]

The Ref never should have let the fight continue after the first knockdown.

[@ckobo84]

Yeah I thought he was going to wave it off as soon as he went down. Some refs would have stopped it even before the first knockdown just from him taking an onslaught of punches.

[@asr5657]

What a fight between two really good fighters. Both gentlemen and really good men. Even though this fight was short this was one of my favourite fights to have seen. Theses two great mens would smash any of the boxers today no question. And how George was so humble and respectful after the fight was real class, what a bloke 💪🏾👍🏽

[@Yette]

Incredible when George comes out of the corner after that standing 8 and drops Cooney with an uppercut.