Friday, October 18, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegan Cooper learning the ropes in women's boxing

Palo Verde High senior is 4-0 with two KOs

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Melinda Cooper is a Palo Verde High School senior who says she wants to be a dentist. Perhaps that's appropriate, since she spends a lot of her time trying to knock people's teeth out.

Cooper, a 17-year-old junior bantamweight boxer, will fight winless Brittany Conan tonight as part of a seven-bout card at The Orleans. The card starts at 7.

Cooper is 4-0 with two knockouts, though her previous opponents have a combined record of only 2-5-1. Still, a victory tonight, Cooper said, would set her up for a minor-title bout next month.

Cooper is trained by James Pena, with help from former world champion Hannah Fox.

"She has as much, if not more, natural ability than any young girl I can think of," Fox said.

Cooper turned pro after only 28 amateur fights, in which she went 26-2. She had no option but to become a professional since convincing amateurs to fight her was becoming increasingly difficult.

Pena said he tried to enter Cooper in tournaments at the last minute to keep it a secret.

"Girls would find out that Melinda was in that weight class and everyone would drop out," he said.

It hasn't gotten much easier to find opponents as a professional. Fox said prospective foes have asked for an inordinate amount of money to fight Cooper.

The soft-spoken Cooper hardly seems intimidating. Clearly embarrassed talking about herself and her aspirations, Cooper is more than happy to let Pena speak for her.

Cooper has been training with Pena since she was 11, when she thought boxing was "kind of neat" and walked into the Nevada Partners Gym.

She came to the gym with three male friends and heard Pena ask if anyone wanted to learn to box. Although Cooper was only 62 pounds at the time, Pena said her talent was evident.

Now, Pena and Fox insist Cooper can take her boxing career as far as she wants to go.

Women's boxing has long been dominated by Christy Martin, the sport's most recognizable fighter since appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and Lucia Rijker, generally considered the best ever.

Cooper has the skills to land in that type of elite company, Fox said.

"There isn't anything she can't do in there," Fox said. "She has the moves; she can punch; she understands what she's doing. She's a smart kid. You're talking about a kid here who can do big things. I mean, really big things."

For complete card, see Scoreboard, Page 8C