Gerry Cooney

Gerry Cooney is an American former heavyweight boxer who rose through the New York Golden Gloves before turning professional in 1977. Victories over established opponents, including Jimmy Young and Ron Lyle, led to a widely publicised challenge against world champion Larry Holmes in 1982.

Cooney later fought Michael Spinks and George Foreman, with the Foreman bout ending his professional career. After retiring, he established the Fighters’ Initiative for Support and Training to help former boxers find work. He was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.