This is definitely possible. But I find myself thinking that Weaver was a slow starter with sometimes shaky chin and Cooney, for all his limitations, was a fast starter with big power and good finishing skills. I do agree with what you said the Cooney-Shavers topic about Cooney's finishing skills being somewhat overrated because of the age of the opponents of his best wins, but when he had someone seriously hurt, the end was usually not far away. If Weaver could ride out the early storm, I can see him coming back and taking charge, but I think Cooney hurts him early and finishes him.
oh, absolutely I'm thinking of Weaver when he was really having a good night... his chin was shaky but he had courage to burn and if you couldnt get rid of him he was a real handful... there's no question that Cooney could finish it before Weaver gets started, but I just have this gut feeling that Weaver would survive and slowly battle his way back to stop the big man
Can you imagine how different things may have been if Cooney fought and beaten Weaver? With a title belt, I can see Cooney and his management telling Holmes to suck it (at least partially because Holmes was being such a douche at the time) and make him beg for a fight while Cooney fights for more money than Holmes against easier opposition.
definitely... Cooney was so popular at the time, that he could have easily cruised through a good three title defenses against crap opponents before any real public pressure would have been put on him to fight Larry
