Heavyweight Bert Cooper Dead At 53 From Pancreatic Cancer

[Ruthless-RKO]

Onetime heavyweight contender “Smokin’ ” Bert Cooper died Friday after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Cooper was 53.

The stout, strong Cooper made a name for himself in the heavyweight division during the early 1990s. Cooper lost to various heavyweight champions or former champions during that time – most notably Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Ray Mercer and Michael Moorer.

Cooper, who fought out of Philadelphia and was trained by Joe Frazier early in his career, is most known for his entertaining, back-and-forth fight with Holyfield in November 1991.

Once two of Holyfield’s opponents withdrew, Cooper took that heavyweight title fight against the renowned champion on short notice in Atlanta, Holyfield’s adopted hometown. Holyfield floored Cooper during the first round, but Cooper came back to buzz Holyfield and captivate the crowd during the third round.

Cooper and Holyfield exchanged many power punches before referee Mills Lane stopped their scheduled 12-round bout for Holyfield’s IBF and WBA titles in the seventh round.

Two fights later, Cooper dropped Moorer twice. Moorer also floored Cooper twice on Moorer’s way to winning by fifth-round technical knockout in May 1992 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Cooper went on to lose to an array of heavyweight prospects and contenders over the following 10 years. He didn’t box from September 2002 until, at 44, he made a comeback in June 2010.

Cooper was brutally honest about his struggles with drug addiction once he launched his comeback. He also spent a lot of time working with the youth of Philadelphia.

Eventually, he lost three straight fights, including a second-round TKO to Luis Ortiz, before he retired for good after a second-round TKO loss to Carl Davis in September 2012. Cooper finished his 28-year career with a record of 38-25, including 31 knockouts and one no-contest.

[SenorPipino]

Not the best, but always an exciting, tough, unpredictable brawler.

Cooper appeared on the verge of pulling an upset for the ages when as a late replacement opponent, he badly hurt and forced a standing 8 count on heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

Holyfield, as he often did, survived and rallied to stop Cooper, but it was one unexpectedly thrilling clash.

Toll the 10 count for another of boxing's fallen warriors, Smokin' Bert Cooper.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Not the best, but always an exciting, tough, unpredictable brawler.

Cooper appeared on the verge of pulling an upset for the ages when as a late replacement opponent, he badly hurt and forced a standing 8 count on heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

Which 2 boxers pulled out?

[SenorPipino]

Which 2 boxers pulled out?

Tyson and I believe it was Damiani.

[gilgamesh]

A courageous and memorable contender. RIP Bert

[candyslim]

That's a real shame. Bert was a real fighting man. Way too young.

[bigjack]

Very exciting fighter,one of my favorites from the time.

[diddy]

Pancreatic cancer is worse than a brain tumor. It’s a sure death sentence. People don’t even know what a pancreas does and you can’t survive without it’s function.

[DrDuke]

RIP. He was a warrior and provided some memorable slugfests.

[paddy chavez]

Pancreatic cancer is worse than a brain tumor. It’s a sure death sentence. People don’t even know what a pancreas does and you can’t survive without it’s function.

A terrible illness my mum died from it .

[lazboy]

A terrible illness my mum died from it .

So did mine. Healthy weight and non smoker - 6 months, which is apparently a good amount of time. Insidious and very difficult to find until it’s too late.

[paddy chavez]

So did mine. Healthy weight and non smoker - 6 months, which is apparently a good amount of time. Insidious and very difficult to find until it’s too late.

Mine lasted 18 months but she was a shell of herself for the last 12 months literally skin and bones. She went to the doctor thinking she had a stomach ulcer

[lazboy]

Mine lasted 18 months but she was a shell of herself for the last 12 months literally skin and bones. She went to the doctor thinking she had a stomach ulcer

I hope you’re doing alright mate - it’s a very sad thing that broadcasts the unfairness of it all.

[paddy chavez]

I hope you’re doing alright mate - it’s a very sad thing that broadcasts the unfairness of it all.

Yeah 12 years now although it doesn't feel it at all , you get accept it but never get used to it .

How long ago was your mum.

[lazboy]

Yeah 12 years now although it doesn't feel it at all , you get accept it but never get used to it .

How long ago was your mum.

8 years ago, she was 60 - about to retire.

Anyway, RIP Bert Cooper. Him and Ray Mercer brought a lot of action to a hot heavyweight division. I wonder how they'd do today, my thoughts would be they'd have a championship belt.