By James Slater: A short while ago, I wrote a piece entitled, How Far Can Bert Cooper’s Comeback Possibly Go?” Well, that was after the 45-year-old former heavyweight title challenger had just beaten the useful if overweight Gabe Brown via decision, and now, as has been confirmed on Fightnews.com, “Smokin’” Bert will fight again this Friday, on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
Less than a month after the second win of his unlikely comeback (one that has followed an eight-year inactive spell), Cooper will face fellow veteran Cedric Boswell over a scheduled ten-rounds at The Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.
Okay, this news is hardly massive or of interest to the general boxing fan, but the heavyweight match-up about to take place just might be a fun fight to watch. Certainly, it will be interesting to hear what Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore have to say about the unfolding action!
Cooper is 38-22(31) overall and he is 2-0(1) in his latest comeback. “The Bos,” four years younger than Cooper at age 41, is 33-1(26) overall and his only pro loss came way back in 2003, at the hands of the huge Jameel McCline.
Boswell scored two decent stoppage wins recently, against Owen Beck and Dominique Alexander. Hoping to, at long last, get himself either a title shot or a big-money fight at least, the tough, experienced, skilful old campaigner will be in the mood to score a KO on national T.V and put an end to the comeback of the one-time Joe Frazier protégé at the same time.
Boswell lives in the gym, hoping that the call for a decent fight will arrive; Cooper remains a dangerous puncher. The action, though unlikely to appeal to the purists who have had enough of ageing, former names clogging up the heavyweight division, could appeal to the T.V fans who tune in hoping to see an entertaining slugfest.
Also on the card will be unbeaten Cuban heavyweight Yasmay Consuegra, 4-0(2). While the headliners will be Demetrius Hopkins, against the unbeaten Brad Solomon, in a big and important light-welterweight meeting. Further heavyweight action will be provided by another Cuban, in Yan Barthelemy, who goes up against Chris Avalos.
A mixed bag of a show to be sure, but some good old fashioned value for money looks to be on the horizon for fans of fun fights. I for one will have more than a passing interest in the Boswell-Cooper fight!