Bert Cooper


Bertram Cooper, 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, 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 the obscure National Boxing Association Heavyweight 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 tall. He died on May 10, 2019, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 53.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
64LossCarl DavisTKO2, 2:32Sep 8, 2012Civic Center, Hammond, Indiana, U.S.
63Loss38–24 Chauncy WelliverUD10Apr 5, 2012Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
62Loss38–23 Luis OrtizTKO2, 1:29Apr 23, 2011Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo, Miami, Florida, U.S.
61Win38–22 Gabe BrownSD6Feb 26, 2011Club Europe, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
60Win37–22 Corey WinfieldKO6, 2:21Jun 18, 2010Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
59Loss36–22 Darroll WilsonRTD4, 3:00Sep 20, 2002Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
58Win36–21 Craig TomlinsonUD10Jun 22, 2002Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight title
57Loss35–21 Joe MesiTKO7, 0:41Jul 27, 2001Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
56Loss35–20 Fres OquendoUD10Oct 16, 1999Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.
55Win35–19 Brian YatesTKO4, 2:10Jun 19, 1999Genesis Center, Gary, Indiana, U.S.
54Loss34–19 Derrick JeffersonTKO2, 1:02Mar 4, 1999Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.
53Loss34–18 Anthony GreenUD8Sep 19, 1997Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
52Win34–17 Richie MelitoKO1, 1:51Jul 29, 1997The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBF heavyweight title
51Loss33–17 Samson Po'uhaTKO4, 1:36Apr 22, 1997The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
50Loss33–16 Chris ByrdUD10Mar 18, 1997IMA Center, Flint, Michigan, U.S.
49Loss33–15 Alexander ZolkinTKO9, 2:50Jun 23, 1995Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For NABF heavyweight title
48Win33–14 George HarrisKO1 Jul 30, 1994Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
47Loss32–14 Jeremy WilliamsDQ7, 1:48Jun 24, 1994Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Cooper DQ'd for purposefully spitting mouthpiece
46Win32–13 Joe SavageKO1, 1:41Apr 22, 1994Civic Arena, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
45Loss31–13 Larry DonaldTKO7, 1:16Apr 14, 1994Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
44Loss31–12 Craig PetersenSD3Dec 3, 1993Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.People's Choice One-Night Heavyweight Tournament
43Win31–11 Mike RobinsonTKO3, 2:59Nov 28, 1993Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42Loss30–11 Corrie SandersTKO3, 1:26Jun 26, 1993Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
41Win30–10 Derek WilliamsUD10Mar 25, 1993Harrah's Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
40Loss29–10 Mike WeaverUD10Feb 27, 1993Capital City Gymnasium, Beijing, ChinaFor vacant NBA heavyweight title
39Win29–9 Rocky PepeliTKO8, 2:10Sep 15, 1992War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
38Win28–9 David JacoUD10Jul 11, 1992Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
37Loss27–9 Michael MoorerTKO5, 2:21May 15, 1992Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant WBO heavyweight title
36Win27–8 Cecil CoffeeTKO2, 1:24Feb 15, 1992Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
35Loss26–8 Evander HolyfieldTKO7, 2:58Nov 23, 1991The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.For WBA and IBF heavyweight title
34Win26–7 Joe HippTKO5, 1:01Oct 18, 1991Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
33Win25–7 Anthony WadeTKO8, 1:36Aug 8, 1991Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
32Win24–7 Conroy NelsonTKO9, 2:23May 11, 1991Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
31Win23–7 Loren RossTKO8, 1:16Feb 26, 1991Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
30Loss22–7 Riddick BoweKO2, 3:09Oct 25, 1990Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
29Loss22–6 Ray MercerUD12Aug 5, 1990Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost NABF heavyweight title
28Win22–5 Orlin NorrisTKO8, 1:34Feb 17, 1990Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaWon NABF heavyweight title
27NC21–5 Mike CohenNC8Dec 9, 1989Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
26Win21–5Rick HoardTKO1, 1:23Sep 28, 1989Finky's Bar, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
25Loss20–5George ForemanRTD2, 3:00Jun 1, 1989Pride Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
24Loss20–4Nate MillerRTD6, 3:00Feb 15, 1989Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Lost NABF cruiserweight title
23Win20–3Tony MorrisonTKO9, 2:59Sep 27, 1988Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaRetained NABF cruiserweight title
22Loss19–3Everett MartinUD10Jun 1, 1988Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win19–2Tony FulilangiTKO4, 2:44Mar 19, 1988Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
20Win18–2Tim BullockTKO3 Dec 4, 1987Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Win17–2Andre McCallTKO6, 2:54Nov 20, 1987Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
18Loss16–2Carl WilliamsRTD7, 3:00Jun 21, 1987Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant USBA heavyweight title
17Win16–1Willie de WitTKO2, 2:58Feb 14, 1987Regina Agridome, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
16Win15–1Carlos HernándezTKO8, 1:04Dec 2, 1986Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win14–1Spencer ChavisTKO3, 1:03Oct 10, 1986Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
14Win13–1Tyrone BoozeSD12Aug 26, 1986Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
13Win12–1Henry TillmanUD12Jun 15, 1986Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won NABF cruiserweight title
12Win11–1Oscar HolmanTKO10, 0:31Apr 18, 1986Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11Loss10–1Reggie GrossTKO8, 1:24Jan 31, 1986Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0Cedric ParsonsKO1, 0:46Dec 12, 1985Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0Ray DavisonUD6Oct 9, 1985Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0Tim DavenportTKO1, 1:59Aug 3, 1985Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
7Win7–0Larry GivensTKO3, 2:22May 20, 1985Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0Jim JonesKO1, 0:59May 9, 1985Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0Lorenzo BoydKO1 Apr 18, 1985Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
4Win4–0Alvin FuggsKO1, 1:14Feb 23, 1985Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0Ian PriestTKO1, 1:00Nov 24, 1984Leisure Centre, Gateshead, England
2Win2–0Mark YoungTKO2, 2:18Oct 30, 1984Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Dennis CaldwellKO1, 1:28Sep 11, 1984Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.