“I grew up in a big Irish, Catholic family. My dad was a pretty rough guy. So one of my brothers left home when he was 15 and found his way to the gym. It gave me the opportunity to go and spend some time with him and work out in the gym.”

American former professional boxer

Gerry Cooney is an American former professional boxer who fought from 1977 to 1990. He is best known for challenging for the world heavyweight title twice, in 1982 and 1987, and for the power that made him widely regarded as one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history. During his career, Cooney recorded notable wins over Ken Norton, S. T. Gordon, Ron Lyle, and Jimmy Young, all late in their careers. His record also reflects an 85.7% knockout to win percentage, a measure that matches his reputation as a heavy-handed fighter.