Bert Cooper
Bertram Cooper (January 10, 1966 – May 10, 2019), nicknamed Smokin' Bert Cooper, was an American heavyweight boxer.[1] He fought Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd, Ray Mercer, and Corrie Sanders, among others. Cooper challenged three times for a world title, and was known for being in several wild fights in the 1990s, including his world title bouts with Holyfield and Moorer.
| Bert Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Bertram Cooper |
| Nickname(s) | Smokin' |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight Cruiserweight |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 10, 1966 Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 10, 2019 (aged 53) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 63 |
| Wins | 38 |
| Wins by KO | 31 |
| Losses | 25 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 1 |
Professional career
Cooper came out of Philadelphia and was trained in his early years by ex-champ Joe Frazier, and rose in the rankings with a series of explosive knockouts in the Cruiserweight division. Unable to get a world title shot despite winning the NABF belt and defeating Olympic gold medallist Henry Tillman and future world champion Tyrone Booze, he began boxing in the heavyweight division, knocking out Willie DeWitt in 2 rounds but being stopped in 8 rounds by No. 1 ranked heavyweight contender Carl "The Truth" Williams and in 2 rounds by George Foreman.
In 1990, having failed to secure a cruiserweight world title fight, Cooper moved to heavyweight permanently, knocking out top 5-ranked Orlin Norris and claiming his NABF title. He lost the title in his first defense, outpointed over 12 by undefeated Olympic gold medallist Ray Mercer in an explosive brawl. Later the same year he was KO'd in 2 rounds by fast-rising Riddick Bowe and his career looked over. However Cooper bounced back in 1991, stopping Joe Hipp in 5 rounds then being matched on short notice with Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship after two opponents dropped out. Cooper came off the floor in the first round to stun Holyfield in the 3rd round, the two exchanging big blows before the referee Mills Lane stopped the fight in the 7th.
The fight made Cooper a big name and he would be matched in many high-profile fights over the years. In June 1992 he boxed undefeated Michael Moorer for the vacant WBO title, knocking Moorer down twice but also going down twice himself before being stopped in the 5th. Cooper's career went downhill from this point, being outpointed by veteran Mike Weaver for an obscure title in China then losing to prospects like Corrie Sanders, Chris Byrd, Fres Oquendo, and Joe Mesi. On June 18, 2010, Cooper, aged 44, made a successful comeback after eight years out of the ring, a sixth-round knockout of Corey Winfield in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Personal
His hometown was Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, United States. He was 5'11" (180 cm) tall. He died on May 10, 2019 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 53.[2][3]
Professional boxing record
| 38 Wins (31 knockouts), 25 Losses, 0 Draws, 1 No Contest | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 38–25 1 NC |
 |
TKO | 2 (6) | 08/09/2012 | |
|
| Loss | 38–24 1 NC |
 |
UD | 10 | 05/04/2012 | |
For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title. |
| Loss | 38–23 1 NC |
 |
TKO | 2 (10) | 23/04/2011 | |
Cooper down twice in round 2. |
| Win | 38–22 1 NC |
|
SD | 10 | 26/02/2011 | |
|
| Win | 37–22 1 NC |
|
KO | 6 (6) | 18/06/2010 | |
|
| Loss | 36–22 1 NC |
|
TKO | 4 (?) | 20/09/2002 | |
|
| Win | 36–21 1 NC |
|
UD | 10 | 22/06/2002 | |
Won USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight title. |
| Loss | 35–21 1 NC |
|
TKO | 7 (10) | 27/07/2001 | |
Cooper down once in the 2nd & twice in the 7th. |
| Loss | 35–20 1 NC |
|
UD | 10 | 16/10/1999 | |
|
| Win | 35–19 1 NC |
|
TKO | 4 (10) | 19/06/1999 | |
|
| Loss | 34–19 1 NC |
|
TKO | 2 (10) | 04/03/1999 | |
|
| Loss | 34–18 1 NC |
|
UD | 8 | 19/09/1997 | |
|
| Win | 34–17 1 NC |
|
KO | 1 (12) | 29/07/1997 | |
Won WBF Heavyweight title. |
| Loss | 33–17 1 NC |
 |
TKO | 4 (12) | 22/04/1997 | |
|
| Loss | 33–16 1 NC |
|
UD | 10 | 18/03/1997 | |
|
| Loss | 33–15 1 NC |
 |
TKO | 9 (12) | 23/06/1995 | |
For NABF Heavyweight title. |
| Win | 33–14 1 NC |
|
KO | 1 (?) | 30/07/1994 | |
|
| Loss | 32–14 1 NC |
|
DQ | 7 (10) | 24/06/1994 | |
|
| Win | 32–13 1 NC |
 |
KO | 1 (10) | 22/04/1994 | .svg.png){kind=small} |
|
| Loss | 31–13 1 NC |
|
TKO | 7 (12) | 14/04/1994 | |
For WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title. |
| Loss | 31–12 1 NC |
.svg.png){kind=small} |
SD | 3 | 03/12/1993 | |
"People's Choice One-Night Heavyweight Tournament" fight. |
| Win | 31–11 1 NC |
|
TKO | 3 (?) | 18/11/1993 | |
|
| Loss | 30–11 1 NC |
.svg.png){kind=small} |
TKO | 3 (10) | 26/06/1993 | |
Cooper was knocked down once in the 3rd. |
| Win | 30–10 1 NC |
|
UD | 10 | 25/03/1993 | |
|
| Loss | 29–10 1 NC |
|
UD | 10 | 27/02/1993 |  |
For vacant NBA Heavyweight title. |
| Win | 29–9 1 NC |
|
TKO | 8 (10) | 15/09/1992 | |
|
| Win | 28–9 1 NC |
|
UD | 10 | 11/07/1992 | |
|
| Loss | 27–9 1 NC |
|
TKO | 5 (12) | 15/05/1992 | |
For vacant WBO Heavyweight title. Moorer down in 1st and 3rd; Cooper down in 1st and 5th. Fight was named KO Magazine Fight of the Year in 1992. |
| Win | 27–8 1 NC |
|
TKO | 2 (10) | 15/02/1992 | |
Coffee down once in the 1st and once in the 2nd. |
| Loss | 26–8 1 NC |
|
TKO | 7 (12) | 23/11/1991 | |
For WBA & IBF Heavyweight titles. Cooper down in round 1. In round 3 Holyfield down for the first time in his career. |
| Win | 26–7 1 NC |
|
TKO | 5 (10) | 18/10/1991 | |
Fight stopped due to excessive swelling around Hipp's eyes. |
| Win | 25–7 1 NC |
|
TKO | 8 (8) | 08/08/1991 | |
|
| Win | 24–7 1 NC |
|
TKO | 9 (10) | 11/05/1991 | |
|
| Win | 23–7 1 NC |
|
TKO | 8 (10) | 26/02/1991 | |
Ross was hospitalised after this fight. |
| Loss | 22–7 1 NC |
|
KO | 2 (10) | 25/10/1990 | |
|
| Loss | 22–6 1 NC |
|
UD | 12 | 05/08/1990 | |
Lost NABF Heavyweight title. Cooper down in round 1. |
| Win | 22–5 1 NC |
|
TKO | 8 (12) | 17/02/1990 | |
Won NABF Heavyweight title. Behind on points, Norris twists his knee in the 8th and is unable to continue. |
| NC | 21–5 1 NC |
|
ND | 8 (?) | 09/12/1989 | |
|
| Win | 21–5 | |
TKO | 1 (6) | 28/09/1989 | |
|
| Loss | 20–5 | |
RTD | 2 (10) | 01/06/1989 | |
Foreman landed several big hooks to the body in round 1 that hurt Cooper. In round 2, he continued to work the body and landed a solid right hook that stung Cooper. Cooper remained on his stool and did not answer the bell to begin the 3rd round. |
| Loss | 20–4 | |
TKO | 7 (12) | 15/02/1989 | |
Lost NABF Cruiserweight title. Cooper does not come out for round 7. |
| Win | 20–3 | |
TKO | 9 (12) | 27/09/1988 | |
Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. Morrison down 3 times from body shots in round 9, causing the automatic stoppage pursuant to the three-knockdown rule. |
| Loss | 19–3 | |
UD | 10 | 01/06/1988 | |
|
| Win | 19–2 | |
TKO | 4 (12) | 15/03/1988 | |
Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. Fulilangi was cut on the side of the nose by a Cooper punch in round 3. In round 4, as Fulilangi landed with both hands, Cooper responded with a right hand to the head that sent Fulilangi sprawling onto the canvas. |
| Win | 18–2 | |
TKO | 3 (10) | 04/12/1987 | |
Corner retirement. |
| Win | 17–2 | |
TKO | 6 (12) | 20/11/1987 | |
Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. McCall down in the 6th round. |
| Loss | 16–2 | |
RTD | 8 (12) | 21/06/1987 | |
For vacant USBA Heavyweight title. |
| Win | 16–1 | |
TKO | 2 (10) | 14/02/1987 | |
|
| Win | 15–1 | |
TKO | 8 (10) | 02/12/1986 | |
|
| Win | 14–1 | |
TKO | 8 (10) | 10/10/1986 | |
Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. With this win Cooper becomes the first fighter to successfully defend the NABF Cruiserweight title on two occasions. |
| Win | 13–1 | |
SD | 12 | 26/08/1986 | |
Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. After the split decision verdict in favour of Cooper was announced, Booze shook his head in disappointment and walked straight out of the ring. |
| Win | 12–1 | |
UD | 12 | 15/06/1986 | |
Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. Tillman down twice in round 2, the first time as a result of a left hook and the second time from an overhand right to the head. |
| Win | 11–1 | |
TKO | 10 (10) | 18/04/1986 | |
|
| Loss | 10–1 | |
TKO | 8 (10) | 31/01/1986 | |
|
| Win | 10–0 | |
KO | 1 (10) | 11/12/1985 | |
|
| Win | 9–0 | Ray Davison | UD | 6 | 09/10/1985 | |
|
| Win | 8–0 | |
TKO | 1 (?) | 03/08/1985 | |
|
| Win | 7–0 | |
TKO | 3 (6) | 20/05/1985 | |
|
| Win | 6–0 | |
KO | 1 (6) | 09/05/1985 | |
|
| Win | 5–0 | |
KO | 1 (?) | 18/04/1985 | |
|
| Win | 4–0 | Alvin Fuggs | KO | 1 (?) | 23/02/1985 | |
|
| Win | 3–0 | |
TKO | 1 (6) | 24/11/1984 | |
|
| Win | 2–0 | |
TKO | 2 (4) | 30/10/1984 | |
|
| Win | 1–0 | |
KO | 1 (?) | 11/09/1984 | |
|
References
- Baum, Clive. "World Boxing Federation Champions Of The Past: Bert Cooper". World Boxing Federation. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- https://www.boxingscene.com/heavyweight-bert-cooper-dead-53-from-pancreatic-cancer--138884
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/obituaries/bert-cooper-dead.html
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Tillman |
NABF Cruiserweight Champion 15 June 1986 – 15 February 1989 |
Succeeded by Nate Miller |
| Preceded by Orlin Norris |
NABF Heavyweight Champion 17 February 1990 – 5 August 1990 |
Succeeded by Ray Mercer |
| Preceded by Lionel Butler Stripped |
WBF Heavyweight Champion July 29, 1997 – January 29, 1998 Stripped |
Succeeded by Joe Bugner |
| Preceded by Roy Williams |
USA Pennsylvania State Heavyweight Champion June 22, 2002 – September 9, 2005 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Eddie Chambers |