(Fanwood, NJ) — On Thursday, June 5, at the Fanwood Memorial Library over 65 people came out to hear one of Fanwood’s own favorite sons, ex-heavyweight boxer Gerry Cooney. He delighted the crowd with a highlight reel of his fights and stories of his childhood, boxing career, and his more recent endeavors like hosting a boxing talk show on Sirius XM Radio.
Cooney talked about his childhood, and how both he and his brother were encouraged by their father to go into boxing. His brother, Tommy, reached the finals of the New York Golden Gloves Sub-Novice Heavyweight division, but went no further in the sport.
Cooney followed his brother into boxing and got his own start with the Golden gloves at age 16. He had his first professional fight in 1977, and 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.
In 1982, he fought heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, and Cooney talked to the crowd about how fight promoter Don King was responsible for the promotion that took on racial overtones that Cooney was not comfortable with.
He talked about one of his few regrets, not trying out for the Olympics when he was young, despite an invitation to do so. He also shared stories about his post-boxing career, creating an organization that helps retired boxers find jobs, his many friends and acquaintances in the boxing world, his work as an inspirational speaker and, since 2010, his work as co-host of “Friday Night at the Fights” Sirius XM Radio.
There was time for plenty of questions from the crowd who were eager to hear more, and Cooney obliged, finally speaking to the crowd about his faith, and leaving them with his thoughts that, “life is good – we have to count our blessings.”
