Gerry Cooney

Gerald Arthur Cooney[1] (born August 24, 1956) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1990, and challenged twice for world heavyweight titles in 1982 and 1987 (for the WBC and lineal title in 1982 and 1987, and for the lineal title only in 1987).

Early years

Born into a blue collar Irish-Catholic family on Long Island, Cooney was encouraged to become a professional fighter by his father.[citation needed] 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, in Canada.[2]