Aside from Cooney's mean left hook, there wasn't much else to the big guy. His skill level was one or two notches below Quarry. Cooney's biggest win came over a very old Ken Norton, blasting him senseless in the corner with left hooks that would rip the average Heavyweights head off.
Quarry on the other hand fought Ali (2) Ellis, Frazier and Chuvalo all of these guys could crack and fight. Quarry fought the way better competition.
Cooney would make the mistake of hooking with a hooker and since Cooney's head movement was pretty much nonexistent, Quarry's punches would eventually break him down somewhere around the 7th or 8th rounds
Quarry easily. Quarry was a very good Heavyweight who had the misfortune of fighting in a great era for heavies. Quarry had a great chin that could have stood up to Cooney's best punches. Cooney was never more than a pretty good stiff.
PS: Its Jerry Quarry not Gerry.
Quarry was tough as nail and he had proved many times that he could take the strongest punches that the greatest and best heavyweights of all time threw at him but he was also easily cut in the face, especially around the eyes, which had been the cause of his losses.
Cooney was among the strongest punchers in the heavyweight history but his taking power as well as stamina left a lot to be desired.
Given these, I think Jerry would win by KO if he could land one of his haymakers, the ones that sent Ernie Shavers to slumberland, early.or late in the fight where Cooney was highly vulnerable.
However, if Gerry could avoid getting tagged early and progressively damage, cut and bloody Quarry's face, I think he will win by TKO.
If the fight lasted the distance, I am going for Quarry by close decision.
Jerry Quarry was much more durable. he would break down Cooney
