Can anyone give me some background on how this trainer-fighter relationship came to be? And also what years Cooper was trained by Frazier, and why he wasn't trained by him for a good bulk of his career? Was there a falling out of some sort? Perhaps because of Bert Coopers drug abuse? I just bought Joe Frazier's autobiography a couple of hours ago, so I hope that there are some details of his relationship with Bert Cooper in there.
Yes, in the book Joe Frazier mentions letting Cooper go due to the drugs and lack of dedication. I remember first seeing Smokin' Bert Cooper in February 1987, when he went to Canada as an opponent and destroyed local prospect Willie DeWit in front of a massive home crowd, 2 rounds. I think it was soon after that that he lost his way, the drugs got to him, and Frazier couldn't keep him in check. Cooper had a ton of potential.
