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George Foreman really terrorized the heavyweight division in 1973 and 1974 by dominating it. Jerry Cooney was a true heavyweight superstar sensation for brutal left hookers in 1980/1981/1982. Gil Clancy was a retired, respected champion trainer. Well, on January 15th, 1990, all three men began their comebacks today, recognized as sporting legends.

Foreman actually returned to the ring in March 1987, and although his return to the ring was laughed at by most, now, as one publication put it at the time, “the cruiserweight and light heavyweight The 41-year-old Foreman, who used to enjoy class, is ready to take real risks. The 33-year-old Cooney hadn’t fought since June of that year when he was beaten by Michael Spinks. “Big George” is back and shocked everyone. conduct. “

Clancy, 67, had no fighter training since the 1970s. Having trained Emile Griffiths, Ken Buchanan, Rodrigo Valdes, Juan Laporte, Foreman and more, Gil agreeing to return to train the former “Great White Hope” is a big plus for Cooney. Everyone saw that it was. “

In fact, another boxing publication at the time was officially “Preacher Vs. Added a touch of class. “Clancy can’t save it,” the article read, but his involvement makes it nothing but a WWF event.

Clancy had been hugely impressed with Cooney Averle since he came out of the amateurs, and now he was impressed with how Jerry turned his life around by getting clean and sober. Just as Gil wanted to know what Cooney left behind, Fighter wanted to know what Cooney still had. According to Clancy, Cooney had a large, mobile man who could punch and receive punches with either hand. “He doesn’t know what more he wants from a fighter,” Gill said in preparation for the Foreman fight. “George Foreman is used to being the big George Foreman, but he’s going to be the little George Foreman in this match,” added Clancy, adding that the 6’7-inch Cooney made him a 6’3-inch Foreman. I pointed out the fact that you can enjoy a height advantage over the .

And Cooney, who had been sober for eight months, worked hard at the gym. I was convinced. He tired him out, and then, as Cooney later recalled the game plan, after “about six or seven rounds” he was able to come in and knock out Foreman.

It didn’t turn out that way.

As expected, Cooney, 28-2(25), came with a lighter fighter. At 231, Cooney had given up 253 pounds, 64-2 (60) against Foreman, who gave up 22 pounds. A large crowd, mostly made up of curious people, filled Atlantic City’s The Boardwalk, leading to a large pay-per-view audience (later reported to have reached 400,000, with the fight ending at $20.00). was watching from his home. Yes, the fight allowed critics to join the sports day, but the fight garnered the attention and interest of some serious fans.

And the fight was done in a short and sweet way.

Cooney was a faster, nimbler fighter, and towards the end of the opening round, the Irish-American, once the darling of the White Americans, cranked off a left hook that slammed into Foreman’s shaved skull. . Easily shake the previous champion. A scream was heard from the crowd. But Foreman grunted, but unleashed a punch of his own to the sound of his bell.

In round 2, Foreman showed how much he has left as far as timing, precision and raw power are concerned. Foreman backed Cooney and cut through his rival’s guard. The rivalry was the one that facilitated some of the previous comeback fights. He blew Cooney’s head off with a hard, deadly precision shot, and with his legs stuck, Cooney ate heavy leather before falling. Showing heart/instinct, Cooney returned, but calm and relieved, Foreman approached the wounded prey and released the monster’s left uppercut, which blew violently into Cooney’s exposed jaw. I didn’t need a shot. Foreman landed and Cooney was already rolling towards the canvas. Foreman winked at someone at ringside.

Clancy was of course disappointed, but at the same time said how impressed he was with Foreman’s accuracy. Clancy has trained again and is back working with Oscar de la Hoya. Although we all know what Foreman accomplished.

Foreman-Cooney compromised an eventful promotion, a short, brutal slagfest ending in a highlight reel KO, and a comeback for three boxing giants.