Bert Cooper
- Cruiserweight
- Heavyweight
Bertram Cooper (January 10, 1966 – May 10, 2019), nicknamed Smokin' Bert Cooper, was an American professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2012. 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, including his world title bouts with Holyfield and Moorer.
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 and 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 (scoring the first knockdown of Holyfield in the process), 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 and 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.[1][2]
Professional boxing record
64 fights | 38 wins | 25 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 31 | 16 |
By decision | 7 | 8 |
By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 | Loss | 38–25 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 2 (6), 2:32 | Sep 8, 2012 | ![]() | |
63 | Loss | 38–24 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Apr 5, 2012 | ![]() | For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
62 | Loss | 38–23 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 2 (10), 1:29 | Apr 23, 2011 | ![]() | |
61 | Win | 38–22 (1) | ![]() | SD | 6 | Feb 26, 2011 | ![]() | |
60 | Win | 37–22 (1) | ![]() | KO | 6 (6), 2:21 | Jun 18, 2010 | ![]() | |
59 | Loss | 36–22 (1) | ![]() | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | Sep 20, 2002 | ![]() | |
58 | Win | 36–21 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Jun 22, 2002 | ![]() | Won USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight title |
57 | Loss | 35–21 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 7 (10), 0:41 | Jul 27, 2001 | ![]() | |
56 | Loss | 35–20 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Oct 16, 1999 | ![]() | |
55 | Win | 35–19 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 4 (10), 2:10 | Jun 19, 1999 | ![]() | |
54 | Loss | 34–19 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 2 (10), 1:02 | Mar 4, 1999 | ![]() | |
53 | Loss | 34–18 (1) | ![]() | UD | 8 | Sep 19, 1997 | ![]() | |
52 | Win | 34–17 (1) | ![]() | KO | 1 (12), 1:51 | Jul 29, 1997 | ![]() | Won WBF heavyweight title |
51 | Loss | 33–17 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 4 (10), 1:36 | Apr 22, 1997 | ![]() | |
50 | Loss | 33–16 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Mar 18, 1997 | ![]() | |
49 | Loss | 33–15 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 9 (12), 2:50 | Jun 23, 1995 | ![]() | For NABF heavyweight title |
48 | Win | 33–14 (1) | ![]() | KO | 1 (10) | Jul 30, 1994 | ![]() | |
47 | Loss | 32–14 (1) | ![]() | DQ | 7 (10), 1:48 | Jun 24, 1994 | ![]() | Cooper DQ'd for purposefully spitting mouthpiece |
46 | Win | 32–13 (1) | ![]() | KO | 1 (10), 1:41 | Apr 22, 1994 | ![]() | |
45 | Loss | 31–13 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 7 (12), 1:16 | Apr 14, 1994 | ![]() | For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
44 | Loss | 31–12 (1) | ![]() | SD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | ![]() | People's Choice One-Night Heavyweight Tournament |
43 | Win | 31–11 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 3 (10), 2:59 | Nov 28, 1993 | ![]() | |
42 | Loss | 30–11 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 3 (10), 1:26 | Jun 26, 1993 | ![]() | |
41 | Win | 30–10 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Mar 25, 1993 | ![]() | |
40 | Loss | 29–10 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Feb 27, 1993 | ![]() | For vacant NBA heavyweight title |
39 | Win | 29–9 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 8 (10), 2:10 | Sep 15, 1992 | ![]() | |
38 | Win | 28–9 (1) | ![]() | UD | 10 | Jul 11, 1992 | ![]() | |
37 | Loss | 27–9 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 5 (12), 2:21 | May 15, 1992 | ![]() | For vacant WBO heavyweight title |
36 | Win | 27–8 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 2 (10), 1:24 | Feb 15, 1992 | ![]() | |
35 | Loss | 26–8 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 7 (12), 2:58 | Nov 23, 1991 | ![]() | For WBA and IBF heavyweight title |
34 | Win | 26–7 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 5 (10), 1:01 | Oct 18, 1991 | ![]() | |
33 | Win | 25–7 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 8 (19), 1:36 | Aug 8, 1991 | ![]() | |
32 | Win | 24–7 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 9 (10), 2:23 | May 11, 1991 | ![]() | |
31 | Win | 23–7 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 8 (10), 1:16 | Feb 26, 1991 | ![]() | |
30 | Loss | 22–7 (1) | ![]() | KO | 2 (10), 3:09 | Oct 25, 1990 | ![]() | |
29 | Loss | 22–6 (1) | ![]() | UD | 12 | Aug 5, 1990 | ![]() | Lost NABF heavyweight title |
28 | Win | 22–5 (1) | ![]() | TKO | 8 (13), 1:34 | Feb 17, 1990 | ![]() | Won NABF heavyweight title |
27 | NC | 21–5 (1) | ![]() | NC | 8 | Dec 9, 1989 | ![]() | |
26 | Win | 21–5 | ![]() | TKO | 1 (6), 1:23 | Sep 28, 1989 | ![]() | |
25 | Loss | 20–5 | ![]() | RTD | 2 (10), 3:00 | Jun 1, 1989 | ![]() | |
24 | Loss | 20–4 | ![]() | RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | Feb 15, 1989 | ![]() | Lost NABF cruiserweight title |
23 | Win | 20–3 | ![]() | TKO | 9 (12), 2:59 | Sep 27, 1988 | ![]() | Retained NABF cruiserweight title |
22 | Loss | 19–3 | ![]() | UD | 10 | Jun 1, 1988 | ![]() | |
21 | Win | 19–2 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (12), 2:44 | Mar 15, 1988 | ![]() | Retained NABF cruiserweight title |
20 | Win | 18–2 | ![]() | TKO | 3 (10) | Dec 4, 1987 | ![]() | |
19 | Win | 17–2 | ![]() | TKO | 6 (12), 2:54 | Nov 20, 1987 | ![]() | Retained NABF cruiserweight title |
18 | Loss | 16–2 | ![]() | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | Jun 21, 1987 | ![]() | For vacant USBA heavyweight title |
17 | Win | 16–1 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (10), 2:58 | Feb 14, 1987 | ![]() | |
16 | Win | 15–1 | ![]() | TKO | 8 (10), 1:04 | Dec 2, 1986 | ![]() | |
15 | Win | 14–1 | ![]() | TKO | 3 (12), 1:03 | Oct 10, 1986 | ![]() | Retained NABF cruiserweight title |
14 | Win | 13–1 | ![]() | SD | 12 | Aug 26, 1986 | ![]() | Retained NABF cruiserweight title |
13 | Win | 12–1 | ![]() | UD | 12 | Jun 15, 1986 | ![]() | Won NABF cruiserweight title |
12 | Win | 11–1 | ![]() | TKO | 10 (10), 0:31 | Apr 18, 1986 | ![]() | |
11 | Loss | 10–1 | ![]() | TKO | 8 (10), 1:24 | Jan 31, 1986 | ![]() | |
10 | Win | 10–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (10), 0:46 | Dec 12, 1985 | ![]() | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Ray Davison | UD | 6 | Oct 9, 1985 | ![]() | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() | TKO | 1 (6), 1:59 | Aug 3, 1985 | ![]() | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() | TKO | 3 (6), 2:22 | May 20, 1985 | ![]() | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (6), 0:59 | May 9, 1985 | ![]() | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 18, 1985 | ![]() | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Alvin Fuggs | KO | 1 (6), 1:14 | Feb 23, 1985 | ![]() | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() | TKO | 1 (6), 1:00 | Nov 24, 1984 | ![]() | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (4), 2:18 | Oct 30, 1984 | ![]() | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (4), 1:28 | Sep 11, 1984 | ![]() |
References
External links
- Boxing record for Bert Cooper from BoxRec (registration required)
Awards and achievements | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | NABF Cruiserweight Champion 15 June 1986 – 15 February 1989 | Succeeded by Nate Miller |
Preceded by | NABF Heavyweight Champion 17 February 1990 – 5 August 1990 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by Lionel Butler Stripped | WBF Heavyweight Champion July 29, 1997 – January 29, 1998 Stripped | Succeeded by |
Preceded by Roy Williams | USA Pennsylvania State Heavyweight Champion June 22, 2002 – September 9, 2005 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Eddie Chambers |