“IRISH” GERRY COONEY

“IRISH” GERRY COONEY(Gerry, his wife Jennifer, and new baby, were our guests at the 3/17/98 show in Punta Gorda, Florida)(Only fitting for Gerry to be here on St. Patrick’s Day).

As a teenager, Gerry Cooney burst onto the boxing scene when he captured a pair of New York Golden Glove Championships. The popular Long Island heavyweight turned pro and racked up 25 straight victories earning a shot at the heavyweight crown held by Larry Holmes. The fight went 13 rounds before Gerry lost his bid for the title. He went on to fight a second time for the title, against Michael Spinks, and finished with an outstanding record of 28 wins, only three losses, and a reputation for having the best left hook in the sport.

When he left active competition, Gerry’s love for boxing continued and he entered the highly competitive field of boxing promotion. He again achieved success, promoting world title bouts for Roberto Duran and Hector Camacho as well as fights featuring George Foreman. Presently, Gerry teaches weekly boxing classes in New York City and is in the process of putting together F.I.S.T., the Fighters’ Institute for Support and Training, a foundation to help boxers make the transition from the ring to new careers. In his spare time, he likes to keep track of his two minor league baseball teams, the Savannah Sand Gnats and Erie Seawolves, of which he is an owner.

Always the humanitarian, Gerry puts time aside to be Honorary Co-chairman of the program “Hands are not for Hitting” for the Retreat, an organization aimed at stopping domestic violence. Gerry is in demand as a public speaker and continues to devote a great amount of time fighting in the war against drugs and alcohol, working closely with juvenile detainees, the homeless, recovering people, and he has a special rapport with young America.

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