Remembering Bert Cooper

It’s hard to believe this month marks 7 years since the passing of exciting heavyweight Smokin’ Bert Cooper. 

To say Bert Cooper had an interesting career would be an understatement of heavyweight proportions. In his 20-year career, he logged an impressive 64 fights (38-25-1, 31 KOs) and fought some of the very best of his era.  

Fighting out of Joe Frazier’s Gym in Philadelphia, and originally trained by heavyweight legend Frazier, Bert turned pro in 1984 and went 18-2 in his first 20 bouts. Included were wins over undefeated Olympians Willie de Wit and Henry Tillman.   

Fights 21 (1988) through fight 64 (2012) saw his record peppered with wins and losses, but the list of fighters he faced is beyond impressive. 

Included in this run were bouts against George Foreman, Ray Mercer, Orlin Norris, Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, Michael Moorer, Mike Weaver, Corrie Sanders, and Chris Byrd, among many other contenders and tough opponents. In his career, Cooper faced multiple world champions and 18 undefeated fighters. He was from the old school of anyone, anytime, anywhere. 

Cooper’s greatest and most exciting career highlight was back-to-back bomb-fests over 6 months in 1991-1992, against Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer. 

In November of 1991, he went 7 rounds in a shot at Evander Holyfield’s IBF heavyweight title. He had Holyfield down and very hurt and appeared a punch away from a championship win. However, Holyfield weathered the storm and came back to keep his title. 

After stopping 23-2-2 Cecil Coffee just 3 months later, he was back in the ring 90 days after that against undefeated heavyweight Michael Moorer. In a must-see TV action fight, Cooper and Moorer were both dropped in the opening round. Then, Cooper had Moorer down again in round 3 before being dropped and stopped himself in round 5. In between was an absolute war. Exciting stuff. In pure Cooper fashion, he fought twice more that year picking up 2 wins. 

Cooper, who challenged for a heavyweight title on 3 occasions, would spend the rest of his career fighting the best of opponents, contenders, and champions. 

Cooper faced personal struggles at times in his life out of the ring. However, when that bell rang, he showed up and gave you everything he had on that night. 

Sadly, 7 years into retirement, and 7 years ago this month, Cooper died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 53. Win, lose, or draw, Bert was indeed smokin’ in the ring. 

Rest in peace, Champ