Bert Cooper

Bertram Cooper (born January 10, 1966), nicknamed Smokin' Bert Cooper, is a heavyweight boxer, most famous for his punching power and several wild brawls in the 1990s.

Pro 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 number 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 defence, 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 is Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, USA. He is 5'11" (180 cm) tall.

Professional boxing record

38 Wins (31 knockouts), 25 Losses, 0 Draws, 1 No Contest
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	38–25 1 NC	Carl Davis	TKO	2 (6)	08/09/2012	Civic Center, Hammond, Indiana
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	38–24 1 NC	Chauncy Welliver	UD	10	05/04/2012	Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City, Missouri	For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	38–23 1 NC	Luis Ortiz	TKO	2 (10)	23/04/2011	Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo, Miami, Florida, United States	Cooper down twice in round 2.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38–22 1 NC	Gabe Brown	SD	10	26/02/2011	Club Europe, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	37–22 1 NC	Corey Winfield	KO	6 (6)	18/06/2010	Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	36–22 1 NC	Darroll Wilson	TKO	4 (?)	20/09/2002	Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	36–21 1 NC	Craig Tomlinson	UD	10	22/06/2002	Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States	Won USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	35–21 1 NC	Joe Mesi	TKO	7 (10)	27/07/2001	Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York, United States	Cooper down once in the 2nd & twice in the 7th.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	35–20 1 NC	Fres Oquendo	UD	10	16/10/1999	Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, Indiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35–19 1 NC	Brian Yates	TKO	4 (10)	19/06/1999	Genesis Center, Gary, Indiana, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	34–19 1 NC	Derrick Jefferson	TKO	2 (10)	04/03/1999	Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	34–18 1 NC	Anthony Green	UD	8	19/09/1997	Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34–17 1 NC	Richie Melito	KO	1 (12)	29/07/1997	MSG Theater, New York, New York, United States	Won WBF Heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	33–17 1 NC	Samson Po'uha	TKO	4 (12)	22/04/1997	The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	33–16 1 NC	Chris Byrd	UD	10	18/03/1997	IMA Center, Flint, Michigan, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	33–15 1 NC	Alexander Zolkin	TKO	9 (12)	23/06/1995	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	For NABF Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33–14 1 NC	George Harris	KO	1 (?)	30/07/1994	Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32–14 1 NC	Jeremy Williams	DQ	7 (10)	24/06/1994	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32–13 1 NC	Joe Savage	KO	1 (10)	22/04/1994	Civic Arena, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	31–13 1 NC	Larry Donald	TKO	7 (12)	14/04/1994	Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States	For WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	31–12 1 NC	Craig Petersen	SD	3	03/12/1993	Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States	"People's Choice One-Night Heavyweight Tournament" fight.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31–11 1 NC	Mike Robinson	TKO	3 (?)	18/11/1993	Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	30–11 1 NC	Corrie Sanders	TKO	3 (10)	26/06/1993	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Cooper was knocked down once in the 3rd.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30–10 1 NC	Derek Williams	UD	10	25/03/1993	Harrah's Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	29–10 1 NC	Mike Weaver	UD	10	27/02/1993	Capital City Gymnasium, Beijing, China	For vacant NBA Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29–9 1 NC	Rocky Pepeli	TKO	8 (10)	15/09/1992	War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–9 1 NC	David Jaco	UD	10	11/07/1992	Fort Myers, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	27–9 1 NC	Michael Moorer	TKO	5 (12)	15/05/1992	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	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.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27–8 1 NC	Cecil Coffee	TKO	2 (10)	15/02/1992	Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Coffee down once in the 1st and once in the 2nd.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	26–8 1 NC	Evander Holyfield	TKO	7 (12)	23/11/1991	The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia, United States	For WBA & IBF Heavyweight titles. Cooper down in round 1. In round 3 Holyfield down for the first time in his career.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26–7 1 NC	Joe Hipp	TKO	5 (10)	18/10/1991	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Fight stopped due to excessive swelling around Hipp's eyes.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25–7 1 NC	Anthony Wade	TKO	8 (8)	08/08/1991	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24–7 1 NC	Conroy Nelson	TKO	9 (10)	11/05/1991	Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–7 1 NC	Loren Ross	TKO	8 (10)	26/02/1991	Birmingham, Alabama, United States	Ross was hospitalised after this fight.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	22–7 1 NC	Riddick Bowe	KO	2 (10)	25/10/1990	Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	22–6 1 NC	Ray Mercer	UD	12	05/08/1990	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Lost NABF Heavyweight title. Cooper down in round 1.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–5 1 NC	Orlin Norris	TKO	8 (12)	17/02/1990	Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	Won NABF Heavyweight title. Behind on points, Norris twists his knee in the 8th and is unable to continue.
NC	21–5 1 NC	Mike Cohen	ND	8 (?)	09/12/1989	Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–5	Rick Hoard	TKO	1 (6)	28/09/1989	Finky's Bar, Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	20–5	George Foreman	RTD	2 (10)	01/06/1989	Pride Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona, United States	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.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	20–4	Nate Miller	TKO	7 (12)	15/02/1989	Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Lost NABF Cruiserweight title. Cooper does not come out for round 7.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20–3	Tony Morrison	TKO	9 (12)	27/09/1988	Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada	Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. Morrison down 3 times from body shots in round 9, causing the automatic stoppage pursuant to the three-knockdown rule.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	19–3	Everett Martin	UD	10	01/06/1988	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–2	Tony Fulilangi	TKO	4 (12)	15/03/1988	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	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.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–2	Tim Bullock	TKO	3 (10)	04/12/1987	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Corner retirement.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–2	Andre McCall	TKO	6 (12)	20/11/1987	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. McCall down in the 6th round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	16–2	Carl Williams	RTD	8 (12)	21/06/1987	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	For vacant USBA Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–1	Willie de Wit	TKO	2 (10)	14/02/1987	Regina Agridome, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–1	Carlos Hernandez	TKO	8 (10)	02/12/1986	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–1	Spencer Chavis	TKO	8 (10)	10/10/1986	Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained NABF Cruiserweight title. With this win Cooper becomes the first fighter to successfully defend the NABF Cruiserweight title on two occasions.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–1	Tyrone Booze	SD	12	26/08/1986	Stateline, Nevada, United States	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.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–1	Henry Tillman	UD	12	15/06/1986	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	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.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–1	Oscar Holman	TKO	10 (10)	18/04/1986	Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	10–1	Reggie Gross	TKO	8 (10)	31/01/1986	Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Cedric Parsons	KO	1 (10)	11/12/1985	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	Ray Davison	UD	6	09/10/1985	Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Tim Davenport	TKO	1 (?)	03/08/1985	Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Larry Givens	TKO	3 (6)	20/05/1985	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Jim "Kool Aid" Jones	KO	1 (6)	09/05/1985	Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Lorenzo Boyd	KO	1 (?)	18/04/1985	Monroe, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Alvin Fuggs	KO	1 (?)	23/02/1985	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Ian Priest	TKO	1 (6)	24/11/1984	Leisure Centre, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	Mark Young	TKO	2 (4)	30/10/1984	Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Dennis Caldwell	KO	1 (?)	11/09/1984	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Titles

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External links

• Professional boxing record for Bert Cooper from BoxRec