Page 8 University Daily Kansan, June 10, 1982
Cooney will disprove critics in title bout
GINO STRIPPOLI
Guest Columnist
It is what the heavyweight division of boxing has needed ever since Muhammad al-Beit Joe Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila" seven years ago.
Holmes vs. Cooney.
It has everything a heavyweight championship fight is supposed to have: the undefeated champion vs. the undefeated No. 1 ranked contender; experience vs. youth; the boxer vs. the pucher.
The Holmes-Cooney matchup has been inevitable ever since the two came face to face in a Mexico City restaurant during the World Boxing Council Convention in December 1800. Holmes, holder of the WBC heavyweight crown, told Cooney that he was stupid for a white boy. Cooney responded by repeatedly asking Holmes how he drove the nail even deeper when he told Holmes, "You need me more than I need you. Don't forget that."
That statement hurt Holmes more than anything, mostly because it rings of truth. Holmes turned pro during the heyday of All, Frazier and George Forrest. The latter was winning all the way, 29 by knock out. Still, his game has always been lacking.
SINCE HOLMES WON the championship on June 9, 1978, against Ken Norton, he has successfully defended his title II titles, winning 10 by knockouts. Al had haunted Holmes' early years as champion until Holmes knocked out the
overweight and aged Ali in the 11th round.
Cooney then replaced Ali as Holmes' shadow.
Since the Alli fight, two of Holmes' three bouts have been questionable. He failed to knock out Trevor Berbick but won the 15-round decision. He knocked out Leon Spinks in three rounds and finished off Renaldo Snipes in 18 rounds.
In the Snipes bounce on Nov. 6, 1981, Holmes was knocked down in the seventh round. Holmes fought back and in the 11th round the referee stopped the fight. Snipes did not seem hurt at time. During a post-fight interview with ABC Snipes and Holmes started throwing punches at each other. To say the least, the referee's decision to stop the fight was questionable.
That was Holmes' last fight.
FOR THESE REASONS, boxing pu-
rists say that Cooney has not paid his
dues. They say his managers have
taken the easy fights and that Cooney
hasn't gone through enough to become a
champion.
Boxing experts say another strike against Cooney is his inactivity in the past two years. In 1860 he fought twice, and in 1975 he added a combined total of only six rounds.
In 1980, Cooney destroyed Jimmy Young for four rounds with devastating left books to the body. Later that year, Cooney, knocked out Ron Lyle in the first round, breaking Lyle's ribs in the process. In 1981, Cooney put Norton into permanent retirement with a knock out 33 seconds into the first round.
The Norton fight, held May 11, 1981, was Cooney's last fight. Injuries forced him to cancel a scheduled fight against Joe Bugner and forced the postponement of the title fight with Holmes, as originally scheduled for March 15.
Holmes has insisted that Cooney wants no part of him and that had a
let to do with Cooney's injury. Holmes also has been asking "Who is Cooney?" and "Why should I move from him?"
HOLMES WILL LEARN the answer to both of those questions tomorrow night at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Cooney will come out punching and attempt to get Holmes on the ropes. If Cooney can get Holmes in a corner early in the fight, it will be a quick fight. In the corner, Cooney will do to Holmes the punch. In the opposite direction, Norton: He will punch the body into submission. He will use the left hook, which AI Braverman, veteran trainer and fight manager, has said is the best since Joe Louis', to hurt Holmes. He will make the same hand that has knocked him down three previous times.
Holmes' only chance is to hurt Cooney early. Because of Cooney's quick fights, it is not known whether he can take a punch. If Holmes can hurt him early and Cooney can't take a
punch. Holmes must finish him early in the fight.
Holmes 'experience' left job (the best in the business) and overhand right all have to work together to beat Cooney. You can be as hard as you are, and can't dance for 13 rounds anymore.
Cooney, at 25, has his best day in front of him. Holmes, at 32, had his bad day.
AS I SEE IT, HOLMES will hit Cooney with everything he has, but Cooney will keep coming. This will disprove the notion that Cooney can't take a punch and prove the beginning of the end for Holmes.
If it goes past seven rounds, it's a testup. But Coney will win the title by 10 seconds.
Editor's note: Gino Strippoli was associate sports editor for the Kansan during the 1982 spring semester and will edit during the 1982 fall semester.
Groups march for disarmament
About 200 supporters of nuclear disarmament will march down Massachusetts Street Saturday morning.
The march celebrates the opening of the U.N. Special Session on Disarmament in New York. It is sponsored by Daughters of the Earth and the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice.
The march will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Central Park at 7th and Kentucky streets and will end in South park.
A brief tour is a picnic at the park will follow.
"WE'VE ASKED people to bring brown bag lunches, to staithe away so that they can conversate and exert themselves." One of the march organizers, said.
"This issue is sufficiently urgent We thought we should get involved.
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