Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney

E57433

Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney was a highly publicized 1982 world heavyweight title bout that became a major cultural event in boxing history, marked by its intense media buildup and racial overtones.


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf boxing match
world heavyweight title bout
attendance large outdoor crowd at Caesars Palace
broadcastNetwork HBO
challenger Gerry Cooney
challengerStatusOfGerryCooney undefeated top contender at the time
champion Larry Holmes
championStatusOfLarryHolmes reigning WBC heavyweight champion
city Las Vegas, Nevada
surface form: "Las Vegas"
country United States of America
surface form: "United States"
culturalImpact major cultural event in boxing history
date 1982-06-11
era early 1980s
eraContext post-Ali heavyweight era
fighter1 Larry Holmes
fighter1Nationality American
fighter1RacePortrayal Black
fighter2 Gerry Cooney
fighter2Nationality American
fighter2RacePortrayal White
governingRules 15-round heavyweight championship rules of the era
historicalSignificance one of the most publicized heavyweight title fights of the 20th century
legacy often cited in discussions of race and marketing in boxing
remembered as a defining fight of Larry Holmes’s title reign
locationType outdoor arena
loser Gerry Cooney
mainEvent yes
mediaBuildup heavily hyped in the United States
intense
methodOfVictory technical knockout
notableFor extensive mainstream media attention
racial overtones in promotion and media coverage
payPerView yes
promoter Don King
promotionTheme racially charged Black champion vs. White challenger narrative
purseRecord one of the richest heavyweight title fights of its era
result Larry Holmes defeated Gerry Cooney by technical knockout
roundOfStoppage 13
roundsScheduled 15
sanctioningBody WBC
sport boxing
state Nevada
titleOnTheLine World Heavyweight Champion
surface form: "WBC world heavyweight title"
venue Caesars Palace
weightClass heavyweight
wentToDistance no
winner Larry Holmes
year 1982

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Don King promoted Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney