Former Hillsborough mayor to face former pro in boxing match for charity.
By:John Patten
Sports fans’ memories of "Friday Night Fights" may never be the same after "Gentleman Gerry" Cooney faces Freeholder Ken Scherer in a special charity bout June 7.
Heavyweights Mr. Cooney (lifetime record: 28 wins, 3 losses) and Mr. Scherer (lifetime record: 0 and 0) are mixing it up to raise money for the Adult Day Center of Somerset County. Mr. Scherer said the event was the result of Mr. Cooney’s planning.
"I first met him about a year ago, and he mentioned some charity boxing events he had done," Mr. Scherer said. "So I told him I’d be willing to get into the ring with him if we could set something up."
A few months later, Mr. Cooney called to say he had arranged a fight to benefit the center and wanted to know if Mr. Scherer was still interested.
Mr. Cooney’s boxing moniker may have been "Gentleman Gerry," but he was known as a power puncher during the heyday of his boxing career in the early 1980s.
His consecutive knockouts of heavyweights Ron Lyle and former champion Kenny Norton led to a World Boxing Council title fight against Larry Holmes in June 1982. Mr. Cooney’s manager stopped the fight in the 13th round, although at the time, judges had the fight scored closely.
On the other hand, Mr. Scherer doesn’t have a boxing moniker, and while he has been known to go the distance during long freeholder meetings, his boxing prowess is untested. His record includes stints as a heavyweight in Hillsborough politics (Mr. Scherer was mayor from 1993-1995), and his current position on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
But in the spirit of Rocky Balboa, Mr. Scherer has set a plan for training that will get him in shape for the event. Beginning this week, Mr. Scherer and fellow hopeful pugilist Dan Puntillo, executive director of Middle Earth, a relief agency for troubled teens, will be working out in grueling two-hour sessions three times per week.
When the two boxers step into the ring at Franklin’s Garden State Exhibit Center, Mr. Scherer may not bring a lot of experience with him but he will be bringing lots of contributions for the Bridgewater center that provides care for area elderly while their caregivers and family members go to work.
"I committed to raising $10,000, but I think I can get $20,000 for the center," Mr. Scherer said.
Some of that money will be coming from the friends of Mr. Scherer’s who are paying for the "privilege" of being in his corner during the fight. Dale Florio, Vince Lipani and David Mendez will be Mr. Scherer’s "cornermen," helping him during the few rounds he has to try and overcome Mr. Cooney’s substantial reach and experience advantage.
The "Gentleman Gerry" vs. "Freeholder Ken" bout is the evening’s main event, but a full card of charitable boxing has been set, including a warm-up with Hillsborough residents Ed McCafferty and Terry Hudnett.
Tickets for the events are available through the Adult Day Center at 725-0068, with prices ranging from $25 general admission to a $250 VIP pass, which includes a special reception from 7-9 p.m. at the Garden State Exhibit Center and ringside seats.
For those concerned about the risk to Mr. Scherer in boxing a true heavyweight boxer, Mr. Scherer points out that Mr. Cooney has promised to "pull" his punches.

