After re-watching the Holyfield Vs.Cooper fight for the 100th time I officially have come to the conclusion that Bert Cooper has one of the best chins ever to grace the ring...:!:
Cooper certainly had a strong chin and brutal punch and he looked a real force in the cruisers. Like other strong sub-200lb fighters though, he went for the big bucks in the heavies. He fought champions and contenders ( Bowe, Foreman, Mercer, Holy, Moorer ,Williams, Sanders, Weaver, Donald, Norris, Byrd, Mesi, Oquendo) most outweighing him and all above his natural fighting weight (except Byrd maybe ) and he had his moments too. His chin, punch and intensity should have carried him further I think but I guess a fair to middling heavy is worth more than an excellent cruiser. Just a side note, I think Holy,Cooper, Moorer, Norris and Spinks would have made a great cruiser division '86 to early 90s.
Cooper on certain nights was a real force. He had plenty of ability and when he was determind could give any mid size heavyweight one hell of a fight. He struggled with the bigger heavyweights being that he was at his best as a cruiserweight also he struggled with drugs problems which at times made him come in and put on lack luster performances. Overall he was a great fighter to watch, had many classic fights.
Bert was in some of the most exciting heavyweight brawls of the last 25 years. (Mercer, Holyfield, Moorer). And, in spite of his unfortunate drug problems, he was actually a very nice guy. Having gone to college in Philly, I went to a number of his fights. I was fortunate enough to meet him on several occasions and he was a very friendly, and humble guy.
Cooper had a pretty solid chin. Evander hit him with everything and then had to take an extra breather since he was worn out at the end of the fifth, I think it was. Cooper also absorbed flush bombs from Mercer for 12 rounds in their scrap too. His problem was that his defence was so leaky, that it seemed as though he put his hands up as a mere token gesture, rather than to ward off punches. He also had a terrific punch in either hand. He's known as a left hooker mainly, but it was a short right hand that got Evander in desperate trouble. I can't recall any one single punch from anyone else having such an effect on Holyfield.
He had a real quick, sneaky, and very powerful overhand right/right cross. It was a very short punch and he wasn't known for being fast with his hands, but that punch just came out of nowhere.