Dewey Cooper facts for kids

Dewey Cooper (born November 10, 1974), also known as the "Black Kobra," is a retired American fighter who was a star in both kickboxing and boxing. He competed in the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.

In 2000, Cooper became a two-time world champion, winning both the WKC heavyweight and WKF cruiserweight titles. He later became a regular competitor in K-1, a famous kickboxing organization. He came very close to winning a K-1 Grand Prix Tournament in 2004. In a single night, he beat two tough opponents before losing in the final match.

Fighting Career

Early Success

Dewey Cooper was born in Los Angeles, California. He started learning Muay Thai, a type of kickboxing, when he was young. In 1994, he began training at a gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He quickly became known in the United States, winning 15 of his first 17 fights. His success earned him a spot in K-1, one of the biggest kickboxing promotions in the world. The year 2000 was a huge one for Cooper. He won two world championships: the WKC World Heavyweight Championship and the WKF World Cruiserweight Championship.

Competing in K-1

K-1 events often featured tournaments where a fighter had to win multiple matches in one night to become the champion. Cooper competed in several of these challenging events.

In 2002, he entered the K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary USA tournament. He won his first match but lost in the semi-finals to Rick Roufus, another famous American kickboxer.

His most memorable K-1 performance was at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas I.

• In the quarter-finals, he defeated Nobu Hayashi from Japan.
• In the semi-finals, he beat Mighty Mo, a powerful puncher who was much heavier than him. Cooper was the first person to ever defeat Mighty Mo.
• In the final match, he faced Michael McDonald. After three tough fights in one evening, Cooper lost the final match by the judges' decision.

Even though he didn't win the tournament, his performance showed incredible skill and toughness.

Boxing and Later Career

Besides kickboxing, Cooper also had a successful career in professional boxing. Between 2001 and 2004, he did not lose a single boxing match.

In 2008 and 2009, he fought twice for the WBC United States Cruiserweight title against Arthur Williams. Although he lost both fights, competing for a major championship was a big achievement.

Cooper continued to fight in various promotions around the world, including China and the United Arab Emirates, until he retired.

A Famous Trainer

After his fighting career, Dewey Cooper became a well-respected trainer. He has coached many famous fighters, helping them prepare for their own championship matches. His students include Francis Ngannou, Kevin Lee, and Beibut Shumenov.

Championships and Awards

Kickboxing

• K-1
  • Runner-up, K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas I
  • Semi-finalist, K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary USA
• United States Muay Thai Federation
  • USMTF United States Champion
• Universal Kickboxing Council
  • UKC United States Champion
• World Kickboxing Council
  • WKC World Heavyweight Champion
• World Kickboxing Federation
  • WKF World Cruiserweight Champion
• Martial Arts Hall of Fame
  • Inducted in 2008