Boxing

Cooney-Morrison-Mesi

By Adam "Dr." Zee

07.10 - The 80's gave us Cooney. The 90's gave us Morrison. The 00's gave us Mesi. Mesi scored a career launching win last Saturday night vs DaVarryl Williamson. Whether the press cares to discuss it or not, its officially "On". At this stage of his career, how does Mesi compare to Cooney and Morrison, A.K.A the three White, heavyweight American Hopes.

I will break each man down in what I consider to be the classic categories of boxing. Since Mesi is undefeated, and untested at the highest levels, there are some things about him that we just don't have information on. They could be good, bad or average.

Here's a compare and contrast between Cooney, Morrison, and Mesi, on a 1-10 rating scale. 5.5 would be the average score for a good journeyman. 6.5 - 7.0 would be on par with other top ten contenders. Scores of 8, and 9 real difference makers in ability. A ten is rare, and can win a fight all by itself deepening on the match ups.

Offensive Boxing Ability: What I like to call the ability to land and throw all sorts of punches, to the head or the body. Jab, Cross, Uppercut, and Hook. Combinations.

Cooney: 6
Morrison 6.5
Mesi 7

Power Punching - No explanation needed.

Cooney 9
Morrison 10
Mesi 8 - But Mesi owns a better right than either Morrison or Cooney. He just doesn't have " special " power.

Hand and foot speed.

Cooney 6
Morrison 7
Mesi 7.5 - Mesi can move his feet and hands rather well.

Reach/strinking distance

Cooney 8
Morrison 6
Mesi 6.5

Physcial equipment. AKA, the rest of the tale of the tape measurements by today's standards.

Cooney 7
Morrison 6.5
Mesi 6.5

Stamina. The ability to operate at a high level as the rounds accumulate

Cooney 6
Morrison 5
Mesi ??? Best guess 7

Defense: The ability to avoid blows, clinch, make your man miss, and roll with punches

Cooney 5
Morrison 5
Mesi??? Best guess 6

Heart: The ability/will to fight on when things aren't going your way.

Cooney: 5
Morrison 7
Mesi??? Best guess 7


Ring Generalship- The ability to study your opponent, and put yourself in the best position to succeed.

Cooney: 6
Morrison 6
Mesi??? Best guess 7. I think Mesi is s smart fighter. 7 may be too low of a score for him.

And last but not least, CHIN.

Cooney: 6
Morrison 5.5
Mesi??? Best guess is 6

So there you have it, the ten classic abilities in boxing. Now lets tally em' up.

Cooney = 64.5
Morrison = 64.5
Mesi = 68.5** with a few guesses.

However, there is one thing that I did not mention. Work Ethic/ Life outside the ring.

Cooney and Morrison were lacking here. According to reports, Mesi's work ethic is outstanding. He doesn't pollute his body like Morrison and Cooney did. He trains hard all of the time. Mesi has been improving every fight.

Cooney had alcohol problems, and management issues. Morrison had multiple injures to his hands and knees, drinking problems, and a sexual appetite that would have made Wilt Chamberlin tip his hat. The stories of Morrison in a limo with multiple women is legendary. Morrison went through women like a chain smoker would go through a pack of cigarettes. After he got his fill, he discarded them. The result for him was the AIDS virus.

The 64,000 question on Mesi is can he take a punch. I saw him in the amateurs. He beat a seasoned Clay-Bey. In the rematch, Clay- Bey Ko'd Mesi with a solid right. It was a 10 count.

My conclusion on Mesi is he does not have good chin. Better than Morrison's or Cooney's? Perhaps.

Bottom line is this: the heavyweight division is in flux. The real champ is old and basically retired (Lennox Lewis), Byrd is older and can't punch. Roy Jones has no interest in fighting heavies. Corrie Sanders is also older.

Mesi's has a shot to beat any of these guy within a year. He is entering his prime.

Although Mesi eanred the highest score, my feeling is that Morrison was the best over all of the three vs world class opposition, due to his excessive power.

That's what I think. I also think either Klitschko would defeat Mesi. Neither Wladmir nor his older brother are "hopes". Neither man is American by orgin. Both are high accomplished fighters as amateurs. Wladimir despite his upset loss vs Sanders, would be favorite to beat at least three of the Alphabet "champions" right now. Vitaly has been unlucky. He has dominated the score cards, never been knocked down, and knocked just about everyone else out. A shoulder inquiry and controversial stoppage on cuts resulted in his only two defeats, and both of these defeats were vs current champions.

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