Tale of Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney (HBO Legendary Nights)

[@juanjosemjm68]

Larry Holmes will forever go down as one of the best heavyweight fighters who ever lived

[@motorcitycobra8875]

True. But he was dumb as dirt

[@JonBeenHereDoingit1423]

Bum fought washed up champions

[@mollkatless]

@@JonBeenHereDoingit1423 He fought the best competition available, that's all he could do - dummy!

[@RobertJamesChinneryH]

man for sure...when he was in a tough spot he always came back fighting even harder...balls and technique....these two fighters are now very close friends.

[@stand.6008]

@@JonBeenHereDoingit1423 Holmes couldn't control who he fought. It was the best of that era. I think he would've done well against past contenders, Ellis, Frazier, Quarry, Young, Foreman, Lyle...Holmes had the style that would've given anyone trouble. His jab was second to none.

[@teamchb3143]

Holmes defended his title 20 times, fought hurt, fought sick, never postponed a fight...gotta give him some credit...

[@tlig]

He ducked a number of challengers though.

[@ennylffej]

@@tlig Really? Like who?

[@hbcufootballmatters3425]

@@ennylffej He's just talking.... There wasn't anyone to duck.

[@tlig]

@@ennylffej Michael Dokes, Tony Tubbs, Greg Page and most notably Pinklon Thomas. Holmes avoided them.

[@tooakki]

@@tlig hater spirit

[@AntonioGazzaneo91]

I think that deep in Larry's heart, for saying:"let's have a good fight" right after referee's opening, there was the awareness of it all not being a racial shit, but being an honest match between two good men who only wanted to fight, regardless of any stupid cause attributed by promoters just to make more money.Respect to both

[@godsnobody2915]

As time goes on, my appreciation of Larry Holmes just grows and grows. One of the greatest heavyweights that ever lived. He's finally starting to get a lot of the credit he deserves. Would have been competitive and potentially a champion in any era.

[@bigtopvoice2197]

Larry Holmes is, for me, the greatest heavyweight champion of all time just a razor’s edge close second to Ali. Ali had the better resume.

[@CJCrump]

Larry Holmes went from being a 7th grade dropout to becoming the world's heavyweight champion of the world. That's what made him special. #RESPECT

[@motorcitycobra8875]

But he was a dummy. Couldn't speak in public.

[@JonBeenHereDoingit1423]

Bum. Fought washed up champions

[@aaronicedo3757]

HBO should bring back legendary nights, and make new episodes.

[@darrenhampton4852]

HOB should bring back boxing period

[@rowhouse6029]

I always wondered what would be some good fights to bring? I wish Mayweather would get one maybe Mayweather Pacquiao? Also I wish they could do a Roy Jones one. Maybe Roy Jones Antonio Tarver.

[@BruteStrength99]

@@rowhouse6029 are you saying you want Jones Tyson on HBO?

[@Capecrusader79]

Pacquiao vs Marquez would be a great episode. Those two had wars in the ring.

[@BruteStrength99]

@@Capecrusader79 I agree that Marquez and Pacquiao had battles in the ring. But I'm not sure their fights make the legendary nights list. I would put Marquez up there but not Juan Manuel. I'd put Rafael Marquez vs Israel Vazquez. On legendary nights. The fights were far more brutal had far more drama and exacted far greater toll on both world class fighters. Only one of their fights went the distance. I've always enjoyed the Pacquiao Marquez fights. Especially the 2nd and 4th. But what really made them most significant was that they were unification fights between Hall of Famers but none of the fights were fights of the year or had elements like Foreman-Moorer or Holmes-Cooney which made them iconic. What was I think most significant about Pacquiao-Marquez was 3 of the 4 fights ended in controversy. I don't think we'll every see that again in this lifetime. As a matter of fact YOU ARE RIGHT. Pacquiao-Marquez belong on Legendary nights because of the high controversy that follows those fights to this day. DJ You made me a believer.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

I always respected Larry Holmes. You can't defeat Ken Norton in the latter's prime and knock out Ernie Shavers who has the highest knockout-to-win ratio in the history of the heavyweight division and not get respect.

[@combatesdeboxeo]

What? Lmao one of the biggest trash comments ever. Norton was way past his prime in1978, he was in his absolute peak in 1974 when FOREMAN destroyed him, a.1978 finished Norton gave to a prime Holmes the hell. And Shavers had a.trash chin and was a crappy fighter with a heavy punch.

[@TheIkaraCult]

I still can't believe that Larry got up from that Shavers punch, been watching that back since Shavers passed a few weeks ago. Larry was tough as nails as well as a great boxer

[@houndawg]

I never heard that sound after a punch landed before

[@jtoddjb]

both of these guys are such class acts now. Doing charity work together. Good stuff

[@motorcitycobra8875]

Holmes was not class in that fight. He ran his mouth, black , black. He was a total dumbass. And still is.

[@muder0989]

Gerry cooney is a good contender. He only ever lost to hall of fame fighters. He deserves that much credit that he fought great fighters and had a good career. But Larry Holmes is a living legend of the sport. His style laid the blue print for many fighters to come and was a great champion regardless if he got the respect he rightfully deserved and it does my heart good that Larry Holmes won out in life. He is a rich and successful business man now. He won in the end. screw what anybody else has to say Larry Holmes is a all time great

[@montbrink4700]

Well said....

[@mongoslade277]

Cooney never beat anyone in their prime. His best wins was Ron Lyle. Jimmy Young and Norton when they were all washed up. He did good against Holmes that night but the lack of competition hurt him

[@Dusterbugless]

So that makes him the buffalo bills of boxing. Like Oba Carr

[@carlosthegaucho]

Tremendous fight, and Larry Holmes still being one of the most underrated pugilists in the history!

[@emekonen]

Holmes is by far one of the greatest heavies of all time.

[@smoothALOE]

Ken Norton was announced first when he was defending his championship belt versus Larry Holmes. They shouldn't act like this was something that had never happened before.

[@wajabi]

Holmes to me is among the most strong, respected and serious champions of the 20th century. Hands down Holmes belongs in the Heavyweight Elite Champs of all time.

[@williamcooper6274]

Larry Holmes was a great, great fighter who never received his due. Even when he fought Gerry Cooney his got disrespected. For crying out loud, a special hot-line was placed in Cooney's dressing room so he could receive a congratulatory phone call from President Ronald Reagan. But that was okay. Larry, you were right there with the all-time greats. That Norton fight was amazing, and you got off the canvas to beat Shavers and Snipes. You blew out Cooney and won the 2nd Spinks fight.

[@juliusienzalo]

spoken like a true grey coat...get lost moron

[@juliusienzalo]

Defcon 2 lol get a girlfriend you fat weak fuck

[@williamcooper6274]

Defcon 2 Dude, is that really necessary?

[@juliusienzalo]

Defcon 2 you fat weak clown you're don't know what a commie is and the closest to serving you do is call of duty, get a girlfriend chump lol

[@kingofshmups3390]

Holmes and Hagler didn't get the respect they deserved.

[@MrGoodnplenty1957]

The sad part.. Larry got no disrespect as the champion. In this fight, they introduced him first, then Cooney. Never should the challenger be introduced before the champion.

[@aaronjohnson9194]

Family reunion in St.Louis!

[@thetruth72667]

AMEN! It was 100% wrong, insulting, undermining, disrespectful & a blatant slap in the face introducing Holmes 1st! I'm not even close to being a Holmes fan but FUCK'EM ALL for doing that shit to Holmes!!!!!

[@tlig]

Ken Norton was introduced first when Holmes challenged him for the title. Funny how no one ever mentions that; as it turns out it was by the same announcer.

[@matthewmendel2185]

True that and Norton deserved a draw atleast he was the champion i thought they both won Norton the harder puncher Larry the better boxer

[@matthewmendel2185]

I also have no doubt in my mind that A prime Norton from the early 70s what have knocked Gerry Cooney out cold Same with a Prime Ron Lyle Cooney was trash

[@SmileEmptySoul266]

Shows how much of a gentleman Holmes was too when they met in the middle of the ring and as he touched gloves he said "Let's have a good fight" true sportsmenship and like he said...all the bullshit goes out the window at that point anyways....good guy and good sprtsmenship for real. ☺️

[@motorcitycobra8875]

Holmes is a racist and a total dumbass.

[@bradleywyatt3918]

As a teenager and a frustrated amateur fighter I admired Larry Holmes for his technique and skill. I became a fan when he beat Norton and solidified my fandom when he beat Weaver in the last 30 seconds of the 15th round. That jackhammer jab stunned most fighters early in the bout. You could see the reaction when he landed it early. I never could develop that trip hammered left jab.

[@marcbrisebois4301]

solidified your fandom when Weaver ko'd Tate with 45 seconds left in the 15th when Holmes ko'd Weaver in the 12th round Mike was 20-9 and wasn't expected to go 2-3 rounds jesus fucking christ get your shit together

[@Jim_Harwood]

Larry cleaned out the division from 1978-1982 and that made the Cooney fight possible. Not a bad fight either

[@Fightconnoisseur96]

Both of these fighters are a credit to their race, the human race.

[@wadegarrett2053]

DanTheBoxingMan what a gay comment

[@osurpless]

As long as you've convinced yourself...

[@chrisbennett606]

Johnny doe what's gay about that that quote .that quote comes from the esteemed American boxing and sports writer

[@thetruth72667]

Unfortunately your response to that comment just shows us how lost you are...

[@truthhitman7473]

That doesn't change the fact that Holmes was introduced first because he was being disrespected by horrible racist people.

[@davidlawrencegraham6722]

Gerry looks fit and healthy good to see

[@TheLeadSled]

thanks for putting this up, I was a kid when this fight took place and I remember it even divided my school between the kids, it really was that bad

[@judemarcos2496]

My Grandpa always tells me a story about Larry Holmes and he is indeed one of the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. I watched most of his fights he truly deserves the respect.

[@johnnypaycheck3307]

Pure and simple Cooney wasn't in Larry Holmes class

[@georgeandy6923]

This was such a Great Series by HBO! And this Episode was probably the Best of all of them. What is really So Awesome about this Championship Fight is that to this day, Holmes and Cooney are Great Friends and Talk or Text each other just about every other day or so. It just goes to show that in the end, Love Conquers Hate.....Even Manufactured Hate, LOL!!

[@billygiles1736]

There both really good guys I enjoyed this thank you

[@heatwave1789]

this is one of my favorite legendary nights to watch, you can see it in both men eyes respect for each other.

[@jonnybravo3055]

That ref in the Norton fight should never work again. Could have been a fatality in there.

[@TomSanderson100]

Jonny Bravo you're right Cooney had a free shot at Norton

[@gregodonnell1570]

Thought exactly the same just because the tope is holding the fighter up does NOT mean he hasn't been knocked the fuck out an clearly needs help!

[@gregodonnell1570]

When someone takes 2 punches clean and there hands are by there side there's clearly something wrong!

[@donjohnson3888]

Tony Perez is his name. He reffed Cooney/Norton, Tua/Ruiz, and Morrison/Mercer. *ALL THREE* of the most brutal heavyweight knockouts in the entire history of the sport. He was a _terrible_ ref who had no idea when to step in and stop it. Dude is lucky he didn't get anyone killed.

[@jonnybravo3055]

Don Johnson i didn't know it was the same ref as the Tommy Morrison vs Ray Mercer fight. Thanks for that

[@VinegarAutofill]

If Rappaort and Jones had given Cooney a tougher road to get to the title, he would have had a better chance when he got in there with Holmes. Instead, they put him in with people he could cream to catch a headline and make money and in the long run they did a disservice to Cooney.

[@tlig]

According to Cooney himself Don King prevented his fighters from facing him early in his career (Don had most of the good fighters) which was why he faced such poor opposition. Don't know if it's true or not.

[@VinegarAutofill]

tlig Once King saw the money to be made, he wasn't gonna duck Cooney too long.

[@deadarmd]

Yeah remarkably Cooney wasnt even that bad of a fighter. Stopping Lyle and Norton were impressive but he wasn't ready for twelve rounds with Holmes. Maybe if he had two more fights against good fighters. At it stands he went in there not ready and lost his chances at stardom imo

[@iAintSayDat]

@@deadarmd Holmes wrote in his book he didn't think Cooney was a bum at all. And Larry was the one in the ring with him.

[@thescatman5029]

Something I've learned when making money.....make it, while it's hot! That's what both King and Rapapport did! A "tougher road to get to the title" risks the fighter losing, and all title hopes go down. That's an unfortunate reality, like it, or not! A first-round knockout of a name like Norton, washed up but still a name, keeps the opportunity hot!

[@davidmaez7253]

I was a kid on this night, me and my brother Jeff and our best friend Keith Turner. Went to see E.T. but after the movie I listened to the radio and Holmes won. I was happy because Holmes won. And I will never forget how Larry was dissed for not being introduced last.

[@vauxspirit1]

One great fighter, two great men

[@edwarddeitch8886]

Holmes was one of the all time greats.

[@retnamyoga]

Larry Holmes is a very skilled boxer - respect to him!

[@Mike-om8gi]

Larry is a king truly an all time great

[@80srocknroller]

Sullivan, Jeffries, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Braddock, Louis, Charles, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Spinks, Tyson, Douglas, Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis, Moorer, Klitschko, Ruiz, Rahman, Fury, Wilder, Joshua, Usyk are the many names that made the World Heavyweight Championship of pro boxing so special for over 140 years

[@orestes67]

Larry is one of the most underrated boxers, not just heavyweights, ever.

[@stifflerrussell2868]

cooney was a tuff man but no boxer in holmes class.

[@boobopya6143]

Yeah he was tuff he got beat like a drum lol

[@johnathandoe6916]

Coney threw the fight he took all that punishment and in the 12th Holmes still couldnt hurt him so he gave him a low blow looked at the ref no penalty then drops his guard the rest of the round he still couldnt finish him. He had to take a dive.

[@mditt7]

I miss these great days. I was in my own prime and these guys were my idols. It didn't matter a damn to me what color they were. They were both inspirational.

[@RuffhouseNC]

This was the first fight I remember watching. My daddy was hype.

[@hawkermustang]

Cooney was a big guy with a good punch and a lot of heart. However, this was a manufactured mega fight built upon race. Cooney was not ready to fight Holmes. Cooney was a C+ fighter at best.

[@Randomfuse]

again taking credit from holmes when he knockes out norton all of you said he was the reall deal a legit contender then holmes destroyes him and all of a sudden he is"C-level fighter at his best" man you dont know shit

[@hawkermustang]

TheDbz97 He looks bad bro. He had a pretty good punch, that was about it.

[@Randomfuse]

hawkermustang so you were in the ring with him to know this?

[@hawkermustang]

TheDbz97 I have eyes. I think either K.Bro would have beaten Cooney very easily.

[@Randomfuse]

+True Playa all time great

[@davidx6912]

16:07 Larry Holmes- "Me and you. You can't call the cops." He was criminally underrated as a champion. He took on all comers, and didn't shy away from anyone. Cooney, too, was a warrior of unbelievable courage. That fight was always going to be one way traffic, but Cooney stood up and stood in there. He was like one of those tragic heroes from novels, who had his moment in life at an early age, then had to live the rest of it in the shadows. He was nowhere near as skilled nor schooled as the Champion, but he stepped up and went 13 rounds with peak 1982 Larry Holmes. The courage that took that night was far more than most people have their entire lives.

[@sophiebarrett3177]

LEGEND LARRY HOLMES. THE BEST.

[@noelmagsakay7619]

Larry Holmes. Top 3 on the heavyweight greats of all time

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

Tough one there. Who you leaving out bro?

[@jshah1961]

Larry Holmes will always be my favorite boxer of all time. Holmes was just a complete fighter and had determination and heart of a lion 🦁

[@mikelockhart5528]

The numbers and accomplishments do not lie and they speak for themselves- Larry Holmes was one of the all time greatest Heavyweight Champions. He was a victim of being sandwiched between two great eras. Period. He may have had the most devastating jab of all time, he was lightning fast, had knockout power and was a great counter-puncher. One can only fight in the era in which they come along and he did all he could possibly do- take on and defeat all comers, defend his title against the best contenders available and sustained that level for a long time. He deserves recognition as one of the 4 best ever IMO- Ali, Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Marciano (alphabetic order).

[@wvu05]

No Joe Louis?

[@windcatcher331]

I am proud to say that at the time of the people I knew in my life I was the only white person to be rooting for Larry Holmes. Not because I disliked Gerry Cooney but I was angry at how people were cheering on Cooney just because he was white. The hate for Larry Holmes was tangible, and sad. I saw a boxing match and may the best man win. I thought that man was Larry Holmes, my favorite fighter at the time. It's good to hear that Cooney and Holmes are good friends today.

[@warrioroflight3489]

Even me that im white i think larry holmes is the best boxer of all the time

[@morrnmanderson7376]

This is a dumb comment. First off there were just as many blacks rooting for Holmes simply because he was black. Racism is NOT only a problem of white people. Second, one shouldnt be proud because they rooted for Holmes because you wanted to somehow "make up" for white people cheering on Cooney because he was white, again even tho blacks were cheering on Holmes because he was black. You shouldnt be proud of it because either way by doing so, you took part in racism. You didnt cheer on Holmes because you thought he was the best or your favorite or anything. By your own words you cheered him on to make up for all the white people cheering Cooney. You cheered him on because he was the OPPOSITE color. So either way you were taking part in racism.

[@windcatcher331]

@@morrnmanderson7376 "This is a dumb comment." A more prophetic statement of your gibberish that followed could not have been advanced. Well done. I agree...it was a dumb comment.

[@juggernaut44]

thanks for posting this was great

[@jasonkassa2204]

Gerry Cooney is one of the greatest journeyman fighters of all time. The third time I ever cried during a fight was during the 3rd round (2nd was when Gerry Cooney allowed Holmes to say something when the touched gloves, gracefully). Underrated.

[@o4tw382]

You cried when he lost?

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

Nothing wrong with crying. As I reached my mid forties, and lost my parents, I find myself getting emotional over a lot of things I didnt when I was young. Last week I think I cried after a commercial for KFC. Crazy shit.

[@psm-rq3xk]

I'm from the UK to me this was one of the biggest events of the 80s

[@mattbarringer3064]

Best 1-2 combo ever, Larry " The Easton Assassin " Holmes.

[@philipmedley9400]

Truth

[@haroof]

Even though he was totally outclassed, I thought Gerry gave Larry way too much respect in their fight. Didn't fight his fight whatsoever. I thought he went in way too intimidated.

[@Riskmangler]

Thumbs up if you're looking forward to reading Don King's obituary.

[@deadarmd]

Tyson got King for these two. He beat the piss out of him in front of an old people home.

[@irvinmorales1409]

That bastard is like a cockroach. He just won't die yet we've had legends like Ali and Frazier pass away.

[@CJCrump]

Holmes had the sickest jab in the game.

[@ReeseMac]

14:40 - 15:40 Specifically who's idea was it to introduce the champion first?

[@screamingdean5]

I kind of feel sorry for Cooney. He felt as if he had let everybody down.

[@windcatcher331]

Screaming Dean After all the crap, Cooney was revealed to be nothing more than a very competitive man . A man with a dream being asked to shoulder a weight he didn't want He just wanted to be the Heavyweight Champ. It was mano y mano and Larry was the better man this night. If only Larry was treated as a man worthy of it.

[@beccalou4942]

+Screaming Dean +Screaming Dean First of all, he didn't "earn" the right to be in the ring with Larry Holmes. White hope and Privilege gave him the opportunity that should have been given to other more qualified fighters. Secondly, he didn't let "everybody" down. He only let some of the people down, most of whom supported him for the wrong reason. He stayed on his feet as long as he did only because he didn't want to let the white race down, and in the end even that wasn't enough to keep him standing on his feet. White privilege then, and now, are the only things that separate the white races from others in America. Can anybody "honestly" disagree with that?

[@beccalou4942]

+rwalfrey Really??? A "very competitive" man..."a man with a dream"..."mano y mano"..."Larry Holmes was the better man this night"...."asked to shoulder a weight he didn't want". Wow, now that's revisionist history at its worst. Truth is, Cooney wanted to win that fight for the same reason that his supporters wanted him to win the fight. I remember him along with the rest of his camp doing all they could to promote this as show of which race was superior, and all of white America got behind them 200%. Larry Holmes brought Jessie Jackson in to try to cool down the climate that was being created by Cooney and his team. Black were angry with Don King for trying to justify and over simplify the hate-filled racial "characterizations" that whites were making when, at a press conference, he said that "It's a white and Black fight...there's not way you can change that". But it wasn't that simple. The rhetoric being used by the Cooney camp and their supporters back then, turned the fight into this huge battle for white supremacy in the minds of many whites, who turn out in droves at every viewing venue across the country to support this unqualified and undeserving white guy. If Cooney had won, for many, it would have said everything that they've always believed about the superiority of whites over African-Americans. But, since Cooney lost, Holmes' dominating defeat over the white guy, for those in the supremacists camp, now makes no statement whatsoever as to the fallacy of white supremacy. Cooney was anything but "competitive"... becoming a fighter was his father's dream, not Cooney's. Mano y Mano???...NO, it was Mano y "boyo". Larry Holmes was the best MAN that night and would have been the best man on ANY and every night that he and Cooney would have fought. Cooney's trainers and promoters are in complete and total agreement with me on this, and here's how I know this to be true. They never asked for a REMATCH! I would have loved to see a rematch. Who wouldn't??? Well, I guess I can imagine the hurt and disappointment of many of those who where into the fight for all the wrong reason. So, ok, I guess there would be some who would not want to go through such grand-scale humiliation again.

[@screamingdean5]

+Becca Lou I won't bother trying to argue whether or not white privilege had something to do with the fight, but even Larry Holmes admitted that Gerry Cooney gave him a good fight and that Cooney would have beaten anyone else and that Cooney had the misfortune of having to fight Larry Holmes himself. After winning that fight, Holmes should have gotten more respect, that much is true.

[@kenmullinax7759]

Screaming Dean He could’ve been great but lack the bottle better than boxing! it’s his own fault he wasted two years after the homes five when he could’ve got back in the ring forgot about it and move Don and Faught homes again but no he wanted to sulk and to drugs .

[@jessyleppert2]

I met both fighters yesterday and they were nice

[@rhoddin]

Larry fought them all and most weren’t manufactured. Definitely deserves to be talked about with the greats if not the greatest.

[@TerryGleason-v4x]

Larry has heart i knew he would stoop gerry conney late even afteer. He got hit with 20 or 30 low blows n still koed him at. The end

[@deadarmd]

Hell, when Gerry stopped Ronnie Lyle in one round I'd have believed

[@adrielmoody]

Holmes had Arcel and Futch in the corner, Legendary!

[@DanteSlappedyouwithfacts]

And Cooney still went past 10 fighting 3 hall of fame minds

[@johndamper2934]

I watched all the legendary nights episodes when they first came out haha somehow I missed this episode

[@timthompson8297]

Larry is one of the best ever.

[@edzebrowski4445]

What a horrible ref for that Norton fight. He should have jumped in to stop it sooner, the guy was down and out and he allowed Cooney to keep hitting a defensiveness fighter. For shame! Thank God he wasn't killed

[@SingleTax]

Cooney became a boxer because his dad practically forced him to become one, not because he really wanted to. He may have wanted the heavyweight crown, but didn't want it with the degree of *intensity* it takes to overcome a lack of raw physical talent. Yes, he could hit hard, but as Joe Fraizer once said, any big man can hit. In addition to punching power, you also have to have superior quickness, hand speed and timing to be heavyweight champion. In those three regards Cooney was simply out-classed by Holmes. If Tommy Morrison in his prime had stepped into the ring with Holmes that night, the end result would have been the same.

[@gregodonnell1570]

I cant listen to larry holmes without thinkin of campbells soup! Thanks eddie murphy hahaha

[@trevorboyer2731]

The biggest shame of Larry Holmes' career is that he didnt get to feel the respect and adulation that his talent deserved until he fought Mercer almost a decade after this.

[@JayJoe626]

The show mentioned how Holmes was in Ali’s shadow but it also didn’t help him that the man that followed him was Mike Tyson. Holmes being sandwhiched between those two must have been hard for him BUT today everyone respects Him

[@TheIkaraCult]

Its so nice to see how Holmes and Cooney have a great relationship nowadays. The shit that went on outside the fight and outside the fighters themselves is horrible.

[@mattarrington4746]

Larry holmes was great and an underrated heavyweight, he just doesn't get enough credit

[@gotch09]

I liked Larry.

[@d4liife]

If Cooney fought Ocasio,Weaver, Snipes, Berbick or Spinks, The result would have been the same as Young and Norton. He would have blown them out of the ring....Cooney had freakish punching power...The fact is Holmes was too complete a boxer for Cooney...BUT IF Cooney got right back in the gym instead of mentally collapsing ......a second Holmes fight would have been epic.. BTW Cooney NEVER said one racist thing.

[@paysonfox88]

16:00 -- Cooney had the right attitude about the fight though. If Ernie Shavers and Ken Norton with their dynamite punching could not KO Larry Holmes, neither could Cooney. Had Cooney gone all out from the start and not paced himself, he would have wound up like George Foreman did against Muhammad Ali -- on the deck within 8 rounds. Cooney had the right idea, it's just that Larry was a better boxer and had more skill.

[@sergiooo9003]

Is that Michael Franzese on the top left @14:40?

[@mikelynch7271]

Nobody did Boxing like HBO ... Legendary Nights = Classic

[@34thstreetman]

Norton and Lyle were very dangerous fighters. Even at the end of their careers.

[@matthewrider5906]

It's sad, really.... None other than the great & legendary Big George Foreman called Cooney one of the three hardest punchers who'd ever hit 'em! That's really sayin' somethin! And that meant that an in-shape & properly trained Gerry Cooney absolutely ALWAYS had a puncher's chance! And THAT meant that he deserved a title shot! And that means Holmes was wrong to talk up the racial issue, alongside that crook Don gotdamned King🙄, because if you only listened to Cooney... Race was irrelevant. Full stop. But I'm glad that they've reconciled. Cooney needed that. And give respect to Larry Holmes too. It's good that he chose to be so classy abt Cooney later in life. He had much he could've been, & could've remained, bitter about! But that wasn't to be. And God bless Larry Holmes for that.

[@TownBizznizzJS]

i loved this fight

[@rickross199]

Holmes was a great champion in his era. I would have loved to see.how he made out fighting in the 60s and 70s.

[@juansalcido6256]

Holmes one of the best great jab

[@MartialVillager]

if it wasn't for the low blows , Cooney would probably have been stopped much sooner.

[@deadarmd]

Cooney actually fought very well and Holmes had always been a guy who shined late

[@salcoholic]

Holmes I think is top twenty of all time and top 8 heavies of all time

[@BlazeOfGlory742]

Greatest Jab ever. Period.

[@DrFrankLives]

My Dad took me to see this fight on closed circuit TV at the Greensboro Coliseum. We were rooting for Larry, but wanted to see a great fight.

[@icarus8471]

They make a point that Holmes was introduced first. However if you go back to the Holmes/Norton fight, Norton, who was the champion, was introduced first and Holmes, the challenger, was introduced last. It may have been a venue practice because both fights were at the same venue.

[@PatkaBoy831]

My favorite parts of the video are when Gerry explains that the loss felt like the 'Five Things' his Father 'taught' him slapped him across the face.. and 23:54 to 24:20. I feel for Gerry, He carried an awfully large cross on his back heading into the fight and didn't drop that weight until after his career ended. Add that into the fact his father had a very hard way of showing Gerry he loved him. No wonder Gerry tried to find comfort in undesirable places.

[@vincentrobinson3078]

It even hurt me when Cooney said how his father had treated him. What a heavy burden to carry

[@abrahamjackson6019]

The way Larry was treated the night of the Cooney fight was a travesty. L.H the constant professional, us against the world..

[@AnthonyArgyros]

Holmes had an excellent jab and straight right hand, chin, stamina, heart.

[@tomcrosby6332]

Holmes had a very interesting style, backing up and circling in some fights. Learned a ton as Ali's sparing partner,(IMHO) plus his own energy and supportive wife. Live long, Larry and Jerry.

[@1PG0576]

Gerry Cooney always comes across as nice guy. He never had what it took to be campion. And that’s fine. Larry Holmes remains massively underrated. He could have lived with the best ever, but performed in an era that had none!

[@mrguystarr]

I was a kid at the time... I remember the next day buying the newspaper to find out who won the fight.

[@primurph]

Holmes was one of the best ever.People went way overboard on under rating Cooney.He fought Holmes on Larry’s best night ever.

[@wtrcipposr]

The more things change the more things stay the same 💯

[@DJacksonII]

Chris Rock brought me here

[@Lhansmeyer33]

+D. Jackson II yup.....

[@godfather71190]

I checked the scorecards and Holmes was winning on all 3

[@wadegarrett2053]

fuck Chris rock

[@34thstreetman]

Who cares.

[@jessyleppert2]

My cousin was getting a Haircut and Larry Holmes walked into the barbershop

[@brianmarquet2602]

Larry Holmes was great ! And a likeable man . Gerry coney was also a gifted boxer and also a great man . I've met him recently at an aa meeting . He's an honest and helpful person - he dosnt get paid to show up and be himself to help people and himself in recovery - it was an honor to meet him - and of coarse they are friends today they are both funny good people

[@apacheboxingfan]

I never blamed Cooney for it, and you're right, it wasn't his fault. Predictions from boxing writers at the time said that Cooney would knock Holmes out inside of 4 rounds, and I just shook my head. Norton and Young were both way past their prime when Cooney beat them. Holmes had beaten Ali, Ocasio, Weaver, Berbick, Leon Spinks and Renaldo Snipes in the last 2 years. Cooney was nowhere near the caliber of Holmes, and being white was the deciding factor in getting him that fight.

[@limalima6037]

I like that "looney" Cooney line from Holmes. That was good!👍

[@pjtheory]

The laughable scorecards put forth by Ford/Moretti obscured the masterful performance by Larry Holmes. Holmes followed the advice of two of boxing's greatest trainers (e.g., Eddie Futch and Ray Arcel) to a tee. For most of the fight, Holmes moved to his left, blocked Cooney's wide punches, and kept his elbows in when Cooney went to his body. Neither Ford nor Moretti nor Cosell seemed to see and/or acknowledge the effectiveness of the greatest jab in boxing history. There have been fighters with quicker or heavier jabs, but Holmes is the only fighter to use the jab as both a speed and power weapon. Larry's also demonstrated his adaptability by outslugging the slugger in the 10th round. The 10th round took everything out of the much younger Cooney, and Holmes then took Cooney apart in the final 3 rounds. By any measure, this Larry Holmes was one of the top 3 heavyweights of all-time.

[@andykerr3803]

You said it well, especially the left jab. Yet there was so much more. Glad he is still with us.

[@markunrau2493]

Rocky 3 was released 2 weeks may 28 before this fight really?

[@TheIkaraCult]

I know some of these provincial places were a bit backward in the 80's but it's still mindblowing how someone might introduce Larry Holmes as George Foreman... fuck Larry did not get the respect he deserved in his time.

[@orestes67]

This is an example if how professional sports is a business. Especially boxing