Gentleman Gerry

Beginning in the late 1970s, "Gentleman" Gerry Cooney's professional boxing career was marked by exhilarating fights, exciting wins, and a powerful left hook. In 1982, Cooney landed a lucrative match against world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes on one of the biggest stages in championship boxing. Yet Cooney's bouts in the ring were nothing compared to the inner turmoil that he dealt with and eventually overcame.
Gentleman Gerry: A Contender in the Ring, a Champion in Recovery chronicles the career of a boxing legend, the challenges and triumphs of a trauma survivor, and an alcoholic's journey to sustained recovery. Gerry Cooney and John Grady provide a detailed account of how the former contender went from an abused childhood to becoming a two-time Golden Gloves champion. More than just a biography, this book explores the challenges of surviving difficult moments and overcoming obstacles such as alcohol addiction. The authors also provide historical perspectives of the era and behind-the-scenes insight into the world of professional boxing.
Complete with photographs from esteemed sports photographer Joe DiMaggio and stories directly from Cooney himself, this book offers an unprecedented look into Cooney's life and the lessons he learned. Fans of boxing, as well as sports enthusiasts and others recovering from addiction, will find Gentleman Gerry a must-read.

Gerry Cooney is a former boxer who emerged as the #1 contender for the heavyweight championship of the world. Ranked #53 on The Ring Magazine's "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time," Cooney fought all-time great champion Larry Holmes in one of the most memorable and anticipated title fights in boxing history. Cooney currently co-hosts "At the Fights" on SiriusXM radio with Randy "The Commissioner" Gordon.

Foreword Randy "Commish" Gordon
Acknowledgments
Prologue
PART ONE: A SURVIVOR EVOLVES INTO A FIGHTER
1: The Earliest Days
2: The Survivor Fights Back
3: From Prospect to National Sensation
The Writing Process: A Fan Meets a Boxing Legend
PART TWO: EXPLORING POTENTIAL
4: From Prodigy to Pro
5: The Future: An Un-setting Sun
6: Fighting through the Heavyweight Division
The Writing Process: Mom, We're Working with Gerry Cooney
PART THREE: THE TOP CONTENDER
7: Evolving into a Top Contender
8: Combating the Veteran Warrior
9: It's (Almost) Time
The Writing Process: Healing through Giving
PART FOUR: THE LEGEND
10: The Prodigy Prepares for Battle
11: A Herculean Destruction of a Legend
12: Aftermath
The Writing Process: A Fan Hangs with Gerry
PART FIVE: JOURNEYING TOWARD DESTINY
13: Fighting Fame, Egos, but Not the Champ
14: The Dream Becomes Reality
15: Training for the Champ
The Writing Process: A Heightened Sense of Urgency
PART SIX: THE CHAMPIONSHIP QUEST
16: Fight Night
17: I Belong Here
18: You Can't Hurt Me, Man
The Writing Process: Writing at the "Office"
PART SEVEN: ENCOUNTERING SEVERE ADVERSITY
19: Breaking Apart
20: A Brief Return to Combat
21: Dead Man Fighting
The Writing Process: God Hears All Prayers, but Sometimes the Answer Is No
PART EIGHT: LOST LEGACY FOUND
22: Preparing to Rise
23: The Preacher and the Puncher
24: Doing the "Next Right Thing"
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors