Bert Cooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bert Cooper |
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|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Bertram Cooper |
| Nickname(s) | Smokin' |
| Rated at |
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| 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 | 64 |
| Wins | 38 |
| Wins by KO | 31 |
| Losses | 25 |
| No contests | 1 |
Bertram Cooper (born January 10, 1966 – died May 10, 2019) was a famous American boxer. People knew him as Smokin' Bert Cooper because of his exciting fighting style. He was a professional boxer from 1984 to 2012. Bert fought many big names in boxing, like Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, and Riddick Bowe. He was known for his "wild fights," especially when he challenged for world titles.
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Bert Cooper's Boxing Journey
Bert Cooper started his boxing career in Philadelphia. A former boxing champion, Joe Frazier, helped train him when he was young. Bert quickly became known for his powerful knockouts in the Cruiserweight division. This division is for boxers who weigh between 175 and 200 pounds.
Even though he won the NABF belt and beat famous fighters like Henry Tillman, he couldn't get a chance to fight for a world title in the Cruiserweight division. So, he decided to move up to the Heavyweight division. Heavyweight boxers weigh over 200 pounds.
Fighting the Big Names
In 1990, Bert decided to stay in the Heavyweight division for good. He won the NABF Heavyweight title by knocking out Orlin Norris. However, he lost this title in his very next fight to Ray Mercer in an exciting match. Later that year, he lost to the rising star Riddick Bowe. Many people thought his career might be over.
But Bert didn't give up! In 1991, he made a big comeback. He got a last-minute chance to fight Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship. This was a huge opportunity! In their fight, Bert surprised everyone by knocking down Holyfield in the third round. It was the first time Holyfield had ever been knocked down in his career. The fight was full of powerful punches from both boxers. The referee stopped the fight in the seventh round, with Holyfield winning.
This exciting fight made Bert Cooper a well-known name in boxing. He went on to have many more important fights. In 1992, he fought Michael Moorer for the WBO world title. Bert knocked Moorer down twice, but he also went down twice himself and lost in the fifth round.
Later Career and Comeback
After the Moorer fight, Bert's career had some ups and downs. He fought against other strong boxers like Corrie Sanders and Chris Byrd. After being away from the boxing ring for eight years, Bert Cooper made a successful comeback in 2010. He was 44 years old at the time! He won his comeback fight by knockout.
About Bert Cooper
Bertram Cooper was from Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He was 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall. Sadly, Bert Cooper passed away on May 10, 2019, at the age of 53. He died from pancreatic cancer.
