By Geno McGahee
One of the most entertaining heavyweights of the 1990s, Smokin’ Bert Cooper, 38-25, 31 KO’s, passed away at the age of 53. When Mike Tyson was heavyweight champion, Cooper would be the preferred sparring partner considering his great likeness to the champ in style and power.
Although he never captured the heavyweight title, he had a couple of chances and did very well both times. In 1991, he faced the undefeated heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, and it was a war that produced the first knockdown in Holy’s career. Cooper would come up short but the great showing would lead to a WBO title shot against Michael Moorer, where both men would taste the canvas in one of the most memorable heavyweight scraps in history. Cooper would lose again, but he proved that he belonged in the heavyweight title picture if he took care of himself and trained correctly.
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer would take out the tough heavyweight on May 10th, but he will be remembered, especially from those that grew up watching the 1990s heavyweights, which was one of the best times for that division in boxing. RIP Bert Cooper.
