View source for Gerry Cooney

{{Short description|American boxer (born 1956)}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Gerry Cooney
| image = Gerry Cooney 2011.jpg
| caption = Cooney in 2011
| realname = Gerald Arthur Cooney
| nickname = Gentleman
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| height = 6 ft 6 in
| reach = 81 in
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|8|24}}
| birth_place = [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]],<br>[[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| total = 31
| wins = 28
| KO = 24
| losses = 3
}}

'''Gerald Arthur Cooney'''<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/06/10/cooney-has-bright-new-visions-says-bad-times-behind-him-as-he-gears-up-to-fight-spinks/f98526e6-04e1-4fb6-9fec-f31890f5e825/ "Cooney Has Bright New Visions Says Bad times Behind Him as He Gears up to Fight Spinks"]. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Retrieved March 23, 2018.</ref> (born August 24, 1956) is an American former [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1977 to 1990. He challenged twice for world [[heavyweight]] titles in 1982 and 1987. He is widely regarded as one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranking the 10 Most Powerful Punchers in Boxing History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1688234-ranking-the-10-most-powerful-punchers-in-boxing-history |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-23 |title=The Top 12 Hardest Hitting Heavyweights: Some Very Dangerous Men |url=https://www.thefightcity.com/best-heavyweight-punchers/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=The Fight City |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morilla |first=Diego |date=2022-08-04 |title=Born on this day: Gerry Cooney |url=https://www.ringtv.com/642560-born-on-this-day-gerry-cooney/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=The Ring}}</ref> He beat [[Ken Norton]] and [[S. T. Gordon]] and [[Ron Lyle]] and [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]] late in their careers. He boasts an 85.7% knockout to win percentage.

==Early life==
Born into a [[blue collar]] [[Irish Catholics|Irish-Catholic]] family on [[Long Island]], Cooney was encouraged to become a professional fighter by his father.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} His brother Tommy Cooney was also a boxer, and reached the finals of the New York [[Golden Gloves]] Sub-Novice Heavyweight division. Cooney's grandparents lived in [[Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador|Placentia]], [[Newfoundland]], in [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wadden|first1=Marie|title=Gerry Cooney and his tough family legacy in Placentia|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gerry-cooney-and-his-tough-family-legacy-in-placentia-1.1859151|website=CBC News|publisher=CBC News|access-date=28 April 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==Amateur career==
Fighting as an amateur, Gerry Cooney won international tournaments in England, [[Wales]], and [[Scotland]], as well as the New York [[Golden Gloves]] titles. He won two New York Golden Gloves Championships, the 1973 160-lb (72.6&nbsp;kg) Sub-Novice Championship and the 1976 Heavyweight Open Championship. Cooney defeated Larry Derrick to win the 1973 160-lb (72.6&nbsp;kg) Sub-Novice title, and Earlous Tripp to win the 1976 Heavyweight Open title. In 1975 he reached the finals of the 175-lb (79.4&nbsp;kg) Open division, but was defeated by Johnny Davis.{{citation needed|date= January 2023}}

Cooney trained at the Huntington Athletic Club in Long Island, New York, where his trainer was John Capobianco. His amateur record consisted of 55 wins and 3 losses.{{citation needed|date= January 2023}}

When he turned professional, Cooney signed with co-managers Mike Jones and Dennis Rappaport. He was trained by Victor Valle.<ref>SIVAULT 06/02/1980, ''New York Daily News'' Archives, SIVAULT 04/19/1982, New York Daily News Archives</ref>

==Professional career==
{{main|Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney|Michael Spinks vs. Gerry Cooney}}
Known for his big left-hook and his imposing size, the tall, lean Cooney had his first paid fight on February 15, 1977, beating Billy Jackson by a knockout in one round. Nine wins followed and Cooney gained attention as a future contender, although his opponents were carefully chosen. He moved up a weight class and fought future world [[Cruiserweight boxing|cruiserweight]] champion [[S. T. Gordon]] in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], winning by a fourth round disqualification. Cooney had 11 more wins, spanning 1978 and 1979. Among those he defeated were Charlie Polite,  Eddie Lopez, and Tom Prater. These were not rated contenders, however.{{citation needed|date= January 2023}}

By 1980, Cooney was being featured on national television. Stepping up, he beat one-time title challengers [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]] and [[Ron Lyle]], both by '[[knockout]]s.' The Young fight was stopped because of cuts sustained by Young.<ref>Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/05/25/gerry-cooney-vs-jimmy-young-vhs-classic-rewind/ "Gerry Cooney vs. Jimmy Young: VHS Classic Rewind"], May 25, 2012</ref> By then Cooney was ranked number 1 by the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and eager for a match with champion [[Larry Holmes]].{{citation needed|date= January 2023}}

In 1981, he defeated former world heavyweight champion [[Ken Norton]] by a knockout just 54 seconds into the first round with a blisteringly powerful attack.<ref>Boxing 101,[http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/05/31/gerry-cooney-vs-ken-norton-vhs-classic-rewind/ "Gerry Cooney vs. Ken Norton: VHS Classic Rewind"], May 31, 2012</ref> This tied the record set in 1948 by [[Lee Savold]] for the quickest knockout in a main event in [[Madison Square Garden]]. Since his management team was unwilling to risk losing a big future pay day with Holmes by having him face another viable fighter, Cooney did not fight for 13 months after defeating Norton.<ref name="worldboxing2">Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/04/30/gerry-cooney-still-a-gentleman-30-years-later-part-one-the-championship-fight/ "Gerry Cooney, Still A Gentleman 30 Years Later: Part One - The Championship Fight"], April 30, 2012</ref>

The following year, Holmes agreed to fight him with the fight held June 11, 1982. With a purse of ten million dollars for the challenger, it was the richest fight in boxing history to that time. The promotion of the fight took on racial overtones that were exaggerated by the promoters, something Cooney did not agree with. He believed that skill, not race, should determine if a boxer was good. However, if Cooney won, he would have become the first white world heavyweight champion since Swede [[Ingemar Johansson]] [[Floyd Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson|defeated]] [[Floyd Patterson]] 23 years earlier. [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] called Cooney "The Great White Hope." The bout, held June 11, 1982  drew attention worldwide, and [[Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney]] was one of the biggest closed-circuit/pay-per-view productions in history, broadcast to over 150 countries.

Cooney was knocked down briefly in the second round, and was fined three points for repeated [[groin attack|low blows]] against Holmes. After 12 rounds, Holmes finally wore him down. In round 13, Cooney's trainer Victor Valle stepped into the ring, forcing the referee to stop the fight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/06/11/larry-holmes-vs-gerry-cooney-vhs-classic-rewind/ |title=Larry Holmes Vs Gerry Cooney: VHS Classic Rewind &#124; Boxing 101 &#124; Sports Media 101 |website=Worldboxing101.com |access-date=2016-10-02}}</ref> Two of the three judges would have had Cooney ahead after the 12th round if it weren't for the point deductions.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Holmes|first1=Larry|title=Against the odds|date=1998|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=9780312187361|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/larryholmesagain00holm}}</ref> Holmes and Cooney became friends after the fight, a relationship that endured for them. On December 14, 1982, Cooney fought Harold Rice, the heavyweight champion of Connecticut, in a four-round bout. No winner was declared, so Cooney told the crowd following the bout: "This is only an exhibition. I'm sorry if I disappointed anybody. I'm trying to work myself back in shape so I can knock out Larry Holmes. Everything is OK. I felt a little rusty, but that is normal. It has been a while. I felt good in front of the people."<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-dec-15-1982-p-56/ Boxing: Cooney rusty in exhibition match], ''Lowell Sun'', December 15, 1982, p. 56.</ref>

After a long layoff, Cooney fought in September, 1984, beating Phillip Brown by a 4th-round knockout in [[Anchorage, Alaska]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122673/2/index.htm |title=After 28 months away from the ring, Gerry Cooney made a - 10.08.84 - SI Vault |access-date=2009-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025121117/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122673/2/index.htm |archive-date=2012-10-25 }}</ref> He fought once more that year and won, but personal problems kept him out of the ring.<ref>Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/05/01/gerry-cooney-still-a-gentleman-30-years-later-part-two-life-after-boxing/ "Gerry Cooney, Still A Gentleman 30 Years Later: Part Two - Life After Boxing"], May 1, 2012,</ref>

Although Cooney had only fought three official bouts in five years following his loss to Holmes, in 1987 he challenged former world heavyweight and world light heavyweight champion [[Michael Spinks]] in a title bout. Cooney appeared past his prime and Spinks, boxing carefully with constant sharp counters, knocked him out in round 5. Cooney's last fight was in 1990. He was knocked out in a match-up of power-punching veterans in two rounds by former world champion [[George Foreman]]. Cooney did stagger Foreman in the first round, but he was over-matched, and Foreman knocked him out two minutes into the second round.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pyWTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA281 Gentleman Gerry: A Contender in the Ring, a Champion in Recovery]</ref>

The losses to Holmes, Spinks, and Foreman exposed Cooney's Achilles' heel: his inability to [[clinch (grappling)|clinch]] and tie up his opponent when hurt. In the Foreman fight, he rose from a second-round knockdown and stood in the center of the ring as Foreman delivered the [[coup de grâce]].  Cooney was also notorious for his poor footwork.<ref>{{YouTube|Yu0eynE2s1A}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gerry Cooney: Is He Great White Hope Or Great White Hype?|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/27/Gerry-Cooney-Is-He-Great-White-Hope-Or-Great-White-Hype/2162391320000/}}</ref>

Cooney compiled a professional record of 28 wins and 3 losses, with 24 knockouts. None of his 10 to 15-round fights went the distance.  He is ranked number 53 on ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time".

== Fighting style ==
Cooney, who is naturally left-handed, used an orthodox stance like [[Oscar De La Hoya]]. This provided him with a powerful jab and a lethal left hook, but a comparatively weaker right, which he seldom used except in combinations. Most of his fights ended in quick knockouts; while this benefited him in the beginning of his career, it left him unprepared for his fight against world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.<ref name="worldboxing2"/>  Despite his devastating punching power, Cooney's moderate stamina and lack of experience proved to be his downfall.

Cooney's left-hook is described as one of the most powerful punches in boxing history.

Cooney was known for not throwing punches at the head, aiming instead for his opponent's chest, ribs, or stomach. This made him vulnerable at times, the fight against Holmes being an example.

According to [[George Foreman]], Gerry Cooney was one of the three hardest punchers he had faced in his career along with [[Ron Lyle]] and [[Cleveland Williams]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/JmG_gR576EA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120818200341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmG_gR576EA&feature=related Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmG_gR576EA |title=George Foreman On Tyson & Hardest Punchers |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=2011-11-02 |access-date=2016-10-02}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Life after boxing==
Cooney founded the ''Fighters' Initiative for Support and Training'', an organization which helps retired boxers find jobs. He did not encourage the racially charged promotion of the ''Holmes vs. Cooney'' match and became good friends with his former rival Holmes in the years afterward.<ref name="friends">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/06/11/larry-holmes-and-gerry-cooney-foes-for-a-night-friends-for-a-lifetime/ |title=Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney: Foes for a Night, Friends for a Lifetime &#124; Boxing 101 &#124; Sports Media 101 |website=Worldboxing101.com |access-date=2016-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227022936/http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/06/11/larry-holmes-and-gerry-cooney-foes-for-a-night-friends-for-a-lifetime/ |archive-date=2016-02-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Cooney is deeply involved in J.A.B., the first union for boxers. He became a boxing promoter for title bouts featuring [[Roberto Durán]], [[Héctor Camacho]], and [[George Foreman]]. Cooney is a supporter of the "hands are not for hitting" program, which tries to prevent domestic violence. He guides young fighters in the gym.<ref name="gentleman4">Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/05/03/gerry-cooney-still-a-gentleman-30-years-later-part-four-the-future-of-boxing/ "Gerry Cooney, Still A Gentleman 30 Years Later: Part Four - The Future of Boxing"], May 3, 2012</ref>

In June 2010, Cooney became the co-host of "Friday Night at the Fights" on SIRIUS XM Radio.<ref>Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/05/01/gerry-cooney-still-a-gentleman-30-years-later-part-two-life-after-boxing/ "Gerry Cooney, Still A Gentleman 30 Years Later: Part Two - Life After Boxing"], May 1, 2012</ref><ref name="gentleman3">Boxing 101, [http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/05/02/gerry-cooney-still-a-gentleman-30-years-later-part-three-boxing-today/ "Gerry Cooney, Still A Gentleman 30 Years Later: Part Three - Boxing Today"], May 2, 2012</ref>

[[File:Devin Harjes & Gerry Cooney (6379758097) (cropped) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Cooney (right) with [[Devin Harjes]], 2011]]

Cooney resides in [[Fanwood, New Jersey]], with his wife Jennifer and their three children.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

==In popular media==

*He guest-starred as himself in the 1993 ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[$pringfield (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)]]", where he works as a greeter at the casino owned by [[Mr. Burns]].
*In Season 5 Ep 21 of [[30 Rock]] (100: Part 2), Dean Winters' character, Dennis Duffy, claims to have attended an elementary school named "Gerry Cooney Elementary".

==Honors==
*Cooney has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at [[Walt Whitman High School (New York)]], where he graduated.

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|ko-wins=24
|ko-losses=3
|dec-wins=3
|dq-wins=1
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|31
|{{no2}}Loss
|28–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[George Foreman]]
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:57}}
|[[George Foreman vs. Gerry Cooney|Jan 15, 1990]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|
|-
|30
|{{no2}}Loss
|28–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Michael Spinks]]
|TKO
|5 (15), {{small|2:51}}
|[[Michael Spinks vs. Gerry Cooney|Jun 15, 1987]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For ''The Ring'' heavyweight title}}
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Eddie Gregg
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:26}}
|May 31, 1986
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Cow Palace]], [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[George Chaplin (boxer)|George Chaplin]]
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:50}}
|Dec 8, 1984
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum|Veterans Memorial Coliseum]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Philipp Brown
|TKO
|4 (10), {{small|2:37}}
|Sep 29, 1984
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Sullivan Arena]], [[Anchorage, Alaska]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|26
|{{no2}}Loss
|25–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Larry Holmes]]
|TKO
|13 (15), {{small|2:52}}
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney|Jun 11, 1982]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Caesars Palace]], Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[List of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC]] and [[List of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–0
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Ken Norton]]
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|0:54}}
|May 11, 1981
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–0
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Ron Lyle]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:49}}
|Oct 24, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]], [[Hempstead, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–0
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]
|TKO
|4 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|May 25, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–0
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Leroy Boone]]
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|0:55}}
|Dec 14, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Boardwalk Hall|Convention Hall]], [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–0
|style="text-align:left;"| John Dino Denis
|TKO
|3 (10), {{small|1:14}}
|Nov 9, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Malik Dozier
|KO
|6 (10)
|Oct 9, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Long Island Arena]], [[Commack, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Broderick Mason
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|1:44}}
|Aug 22, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Tom Prater
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:13}}
|Jun 29, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Charlie Johnson
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:51}}
|Feb 26, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Eddie Lopez
|UD
|8
|Jan 13, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Miami Beach Convention Center|Convention Center]], [[Miami Beach, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Grady Daniels
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|5 (8)
|Dec 15, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Felt Forum]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Sam McGill
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|8
|Nov 1, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Charley Polite
|KO
|4 (8)
|Oct 4, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"| G. G. Maldonado
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|8 (8), {{small|2:56}}
|Jun 22, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"| [[S. T. Gordon]]
|{{abbr|DQ|Disqualification}}
|4 (10), {{small|1:34}}
|Mar 17, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[The Aladdin]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Gordon disqualified for repeated holding}}
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Gary Bates
|KO
|4 (6)
|Feb 11, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Las Vegas Hilton]], [[Winchester, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Austin Johnson
|KO
|1 (6), {{small|1:23}}
|Jan 27, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Calderone Concert Hall]], [[Hempstead, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Terry Lee Kidd
|KO
|1 (6)
|Jan 14, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Colonie Hill, [[Hauppauge, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Jimmie Sykes
|KO
|1 (6)
|Dec 21, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Roll-O Rama, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Quinnie Locklear
|KO
|1 (6), {{small|1:51}}
|Nov 30, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Westchester County Center]], [[White Plains, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Maye
|KO
|4 (6), {{small|2:15}}
|Nov 18, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Matt Robinson
|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}
|4
|Aug 3, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Jose Rosario
|KO
|2 (6), {{small|2:10}}
|Mar 20, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Kentucky Exposition Center|Exposition Center]], [[Louisville, Kentucky]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Jimmy Robertson
|KO
|2 (6), {{small|1:58}}
|Mar 2, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Bill Jackson
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|1 (6), {{small|1:32}}
|Feb 15, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Sunnyside Garden Arena]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|}

==Exhibition boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|ko-wins=1
|nonscore=1
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Boone Kirkman]]
|TKO
|3 (4)
|Feb 11, 1983
|align=left|[[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], [[Oregon]], U.S.
|
|-
|1
|{{n/a}}
|0–0 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Harold Rice
|{{n/a}}
|4
|Dec 14, 1982
|align=left|[[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]], [[Texas]], U.S.
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Boxrec|id=002463}}
*[https://ringobserver.com/biofile-gerry-cooney-interview/ Gerry Cooney interview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooney, Gerry}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Boxers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Huntington Station, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Huntington, New York]]
[[Category:People from Fanwood, New Jersey]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]