Foreman-Cooney: A Fight for the Aged

George Foreman will get a chance tonight to do something some fighters would like to do--punch a promoter.

In a scheduled 10-round bout, Foreman, 41, will meet Gerry Cooney, who promoted two of the former heavyweight champion’s fights in his comeback.

Cooney, also on the comeback trail, promoted Foreman’s fourth-round knockout of Carlos Hernandes at Atlantic City, and his second-round knockout of Ladislas Mijangos at Ft. Myers, Fla., both in 1988.

Cooney, 33, hopes he has less trouble with Foreman than he did in his two promotional ventures with the punching preacher. Foreman threatened to pull out of both matches on fight day.

The bout is being criticized in some quarters for exploiting the fighters and the paying public. Each fighter is guaranteed $1 million. Foreman is the 9-5 favorite in the bout at the Convention Center. A crowd of 11,000 is expected.

It is conceivable, however, that the winner will earn several million dollars more by fighting Mike Tyson for the championship, which Foreman held in 1973-74.

Since beginning his comeback March 9, 1987, Foreman’s record is 19-0, with 18 knockouts.

At Sunday’s weigh-in, Forman weighed 253 1/2, Cooney 231.

Foreman’s career record is 64-2, with 60 knockouts. Cooney, who failed in a title bid against Larry Holmes in 1982 and who has not fought since 1987, has a record of 28-2, with 24 knockouts.