#40 Gerry Cooney

Former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney fought the likes of Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, George Foreman and Michael Spinks but it was his huge showdown with Larry Holmes in a racially charged war in 1982 that he is best remembered for. Cooney was brilliant that night, as he obliterated the naysayers who thought he had not earned his shot, but he was up against a 39-0 legend at the top of his game and Holmes won in the 13th round. Here, Cooney talks about the big fights, the descent into drugs, getting his life back on track and the current heavyweight scene in an exclusive interview with Boxing Life Stories host Tris Dixon.