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Boxing Legends from Past Fight Nights |
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Gerry Cooney
Gerry Cooney’s amateur boxing career was highlighted by a pair of New York Golden Gloves titles and an invitation to the 1976 Olympic trials. Turning professional in 1977, Cooney won his first 25 bouts including knockout victories over former world champion, Ken Norton, and went on to engage in high profile fights against Michael Spinks, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes. Cooney retired in 1990 with a record of 28-3. Upon retiring, Cooney founded F.I.S.T.: The Fights’ Initiative for Support and Training, a non-profit organization helping boxers make the transition from the ring to the real world. F.I.S.T. has aided over 280 fights in the New York metropolitan area and has plans to expand nationally. |
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James “Buster” Douglas
A native of Columbus, Ohio, “Buster” Douglas turned pro in 1981. Following wins over Randall “Tex” Cobb, Dave Jaco, and former heavyweight champion Greg Page, he challenged Tony Tucker for the IBF heavyweight title on May 30, 1987. Although unsuccessful in his first bid for the title (TKO by 10), he rebounded to record wins over Trevor Berbick and Oliver McCall before meeting undisputed heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson in Tokyo, Japan on February 11, 1990 for the world title. Douglas, a decided underdog (42-1), became the first man to defeat Tyson when he scored a 10th round kayo to capture the title in one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history. Douglas retired in 1990, but returned to the ring for a comeback in 1996. In 1999 he hung up the gloves again with a professional record of 38-6-1 (25KOs). |
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Roberto Duran
The legendary “Manos De Piedra” Roberto Duran won world titles in four different weight divisions and competed in five different decades. The Panamanian legend turned professional in 1968 and was undefeated when he stopped Hall of Famer Ken Buchanan for the world lightweight championship on June 26, 1972. Duran went on to capture the WBC welterweight championship, WBA light middleweight championship, and WBC middleweight championship. A superstar the world over, Duran is known for his ferocious, relentless ring style. He retired from the ring following injuries sustained in a 2001 car accident in Argentina. During his legendary career, he scored wins over Esteban DeJesus, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pipino Cuevas, Davey Moore, and Iran “Blade” Barkley. His professional record stands at 103-16 (70 KOs). “Hands of Stone” is still very active in the sport of boxing, now serving as a promoter with DRL Promotions. |
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Joe Frazier
“Smokin’ Joe” won a gold medal with three KOs and unanimous decision at the 1964 Olympics. The following year he turned pro and won 19 consecutive fights, 17 by KO, including a victory over Buster Mathis for the New York heavyweight championship. Frazier and Muhammad Ali, both undefeated at the time, met in 1971 at Madison Square Garden. Frazier knocked Ali down with a left hook in the 15th round and won a unanimous decision that made him the undisputed champion. Frazier used a constant barrage of punches in his career to earn a 32-4-1 record, with 27 KOs. |
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Aaron Pryor
Considered among the greatest junior welterweight champions of all-time, Aaron Pryor secured his place in boxing history with a pair of knockout victories over fellow Hall-of-Famer Alexis Arguello. Pryor earned the nickname the "Hawk" for the ferocious manner in which he devastated his opponents. In his 25th fight, he challenged Antonio Cervantes for the WBA junior welterweight title. He rose from the canvas in the first round to stop Cervantes in the fourth round and captured the world title. He made five title defenses -- each a knockout -- before meeting Arguello. The first Pryor-Arguello fight was held at the Orange Bowl in Miami and was so fierce and dramatic that it was named Fight of the Year. Pryor was inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996 with a 39-1 record that included 35 KOs. |
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