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TalkingBoxing: When did you first become a fan of boxing?
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TalkingBoxing:Who is your favorite fighter of all-time?
Cooney: Well, my favorite fighter of all time is Jesus Christ, but in the ring, my favorite fighter of all time is Julio Cesar Chavez. That guy was an animal in the ring, a true warrior. Of course Ali, and Sugar Ray Leonard are right up there as well.
TalkingBoxing: What was the first boxing match you attended?
Cooney: Believe it or not, I actually got to my first live match recently, and it was on the amateur level. I spent the day with Roy Jones Sr (Roy Jones Jr's father) at a tournament at the Pearl Mississippi boxing club.
TalkingBoxing: What do you think about government intervention in the sport of boxing in regards to a union, pension and health care among other ideas?
Cooney: Luke, that's a great question.. Firstly, I completely support a mandatory retirement fund. There are efforts going on now to try to get involved with the teamsters. All I can say is that I hope if they are going to go that route, they don't get involved with a bunch of suits that talk up a good game and do nothing. Too many boxers are out there who desperately need retirement, social security, supplemental security, medical benefits, and have done without for years because of blowhards doing all talking, and putting forth no action. Its time to just get this done. The Retired Boxers Foundation (Alex Ramos) is all about talking the talk, and walking the walk, our reputation speaks for itself.
TalkingBoxing: Tell me a about the Retired Boxers Foundation
Cooney: The Retired Boxers Foundation was founded in the mid 90's by my good friend, and former USBA Middleweight Champion, Alex "The Bronx Bomber" Ramos. Alex started a quest to assist those fighters who need an upper hand in life. As you know by tragedies such as Greg Page, not all boxers' lives turn out so rosey. Many of them never have had community-based jobs, experience in the workforce, proper education ect.. so if their careers go sour they don't have much to fall back on. Some fighters become dependent on alcohol, and drugs. The Retired Boxers Foundation is all about assisting those guys. When Greg Page was hurt a few years back in Kentucky, The Retired Boxers Foundation was first in line to come to his assistance. The Retired Boxers Foundation has point men throughout the nation, called Representatives. I represent my state of Mississippi. If there is a fighter in MS that is down and out in life, I will do my best to help him or her out.
TalkingBoxing: As the Retired Boxers Foundation Representative for Mississippi, what are some of your current responsibilities?
Cooney: Well, it actually can go beyond just Mississippi. With that said, lets say for example there is an old ex pro fighter who becomes terminally ill, and he does not have the resources for treatments. The Retired Boxers Foundation is here to help the guy out. Now, we certainly are not made out of money, precisely why we count on donations. But we do our best to help out people in these types of situations. If anyone would like to help us out with donations visit our website www.retiredboxers.org I represent Mississippi, so I cover this area, but if my assistance is required, and if Alex Ramos asks me to help a guy out in Alaska, consider it done.
TalkingBoxing: What is your biggest accomplishemt thus far as a representative for the state of Mississippi?
Cooney: I helped out former WBA Heavyweight Champion, Greg Page through the redtape nightmare of the social security system.
TalkingBoxing: Does the Retired Boxers foundation work with amateurs if they are in need?
Cooney: It would depend on the need. I certainly help out alot of the amateurs in Mississippi. I have a lot of amateurs that email me questions concerning gym locations, sparring partners, tournament locations ect..
TalkingBoxing: What are the future goals of the Retired Boxers Foundation from a state and national perspective?
Cooney: On a state level, I would like to see every state in the nation with a Retired Boxers Foundation Representative. And that will soon happen. On a national level, our goals are pretty clear. We want a mandatory retirement fund for every pro fighter in the country. We want medical benefits, and Retirement just like the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA has.
TalkingBoxing: What are YOUR goals for the Retired Boxers? Foundation?
Cooney: My personal goal is to be able to assist as many fighters that I can. My goal is to be known by every fight promoter, fighter, trainer, cutman, in the sport. NOT for any personal reasons, but so that when someone is down and out, they will know exactly who to come to in Mississippi.
TalkingBoxing: Finally, what to do you think about the upcoming heavyweight clash, Lewis or Klitschko?
Cooney: I was just recently talking to my friend "Bad" Brad Berkwitt about this fight. "Bad" Brad released a book called BOXING INTERVIEWS OF A LIFETIME. We were talking about all the different fighters he has interviewed in the book, and right after that we talked about the Lewis Klitschko fight. I wont say what his prediction was, but mine is Lewis in a decision.
TalkingBoxing would like to thank a hero among us, Brad Cooney, for his time and for simply giving his heart to helping others. Brad Cooney can be reached through his personal website, www.geocities.com/boxingbc1/index.html and thru the Retired Boxers Foundation website, www.retiredboxers.com