What were you doing during your senior year of high school? I was chasing girls and working at The Gap at Garden State Plaza in Paramus. For most 18-year-olds, life is a simple routine of school and work. For Yoell Cooper, a senior at West Side High School in Newark, life is nothing like that of a typical 18-year-old.
Cooper fought his first professional fight earlier in the spring after nearly 100 amateur fights. After reaching the number two spot nationally in the amateur rankings, he decided to turn pro. That decision proved right after a first-round knockout of Peter Emmanuel Gonzalez at the Prudential Center on April 10th in front of friends and family.
“That was the best day ever. I was elated that day. I had my family, my supporters and my friends. Somebody’s grandmother was there; it was amazing, man. The whole city came out, but they had me on the last bout, which was a little frustrating because it was late, it was like 12, and some people had to leave. This next fight on June 6th, I want to be the first fight so everybody can watch me fight, but we still had a big crowd for that first one, and I can’t wait for June 6th.”
He is scheduled to return to The Rock for his second professional fight as part of the Crossroads in Brick City boxing show on June 6th. In an interview with ONNJ Sports, the young fighter described how he hopes his second fight goes.
“Action-packed movie stuff. I want it to be like an Avengers movie when I come through. Stay consistent, nice jab, good body work and breaking them down slowly, butchering them down. That’s how I got the moniker “Boy Boy The Butcher”, just butchering them, breaking them down through the rounds, and maybe coming out with a first-round knockout again.”
Even with his success in the amateur ranks and now in the professional ring, Cooper enjoys the grind of being both a student and a professional boxer, even when his days start at 5 a.m. and sometimes end at midnight.
“We have a great team. They always keep me on track because, as I said, it’s not easy at all. You can get stressed; you can get sleepy sometimes. I just stay balanced, I’m dedicated to the sport, so I know it’s all gonna pay off. I know everything is going to pay off with the hard work.”
Cooper’s love of the fight game developed early, as his family introduced him to the sport. While he played other sports growing up, he always gravitated toward boxing, which set him up for success.
“I had my first sparring match at five years old. That’s when I really got into boxing. My dad always loved boxing, and even my grandma watched it, but the love he had for it definitely rubbed off on me. I used to see my dad and my sister hitting the pads, and I used to mock them. My dad then had me hitting the pads because I was mocking my sister. My mom came into the gym one day and said, “Oh no, my son’s got it. Take my son to the gym.’ My dad started training me, and I had my first sparring session at five years old. From there, I knew I wanted to box.”
Cooper’s father, Wali, is his trainer. The father-son relationship is complicated at times, especially during the teenage years. Yoell sees his dad in his corner as a blessing for him and his career.
“My dad is a great coach and a great dad. It makes boxing easier. He knows me as a person, knows what I need, so it makes training way easier having my dad as my coach. I love him as a coach and as my dad.”
The conversation about turning pro happens with many families across all sports, and in Cooper’s story, it was no different.
“My dad and I had a conversation last year. He was like, “Yo man, it looks like you may be going pro next year, so it’s going to have to be a big year of amateur boxing for you.’ So we came out, we won four national titles, ranked number two in the country and we just did amazing last year, and we knew it was time to turn professional.”
The 147-pound weight class is ultra-competitive, but this is what Cooper says sets him apart.
“I got the mindset. I’m young, but my mindset is I’m hungry. I’m a young, hungry lion from New Jersey. I want it. I want it as much as I want to breathe, so I work hard for it.”
Newark has produced big names. Names like Shakur Stevenson, current mini-flyweight champion Oscar Collazo, and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler are among those who have come before Cooper. He knows he is part of the next crop of top fighters from Newark, and he loves representing the city he loves.
“It’s a great feeling just being from Newark. I love representing Newark; I’m a true Newark native. I live in Newark, and I go to a Newark high school, shout out to West Side High School. I love making Newark proud, and I want to continue to make Newark proud.”
Being from Newark, he knows he has a responsibility to be a shining example of what is possible for those from places like Newark, Paterson, and other cities that don’t look promising. For Cooper, it is about being a light in a world that expects only darkness from major urban centers.
“I love inspiring the youth because I am the youth and they are me. I love showing them that it’s more than what you think. You can do whatever you put your mind to and as long as you work, it can happen. You put your mind to it, and you work for it, it’s gonna happen.”
As this is the first year of his pro career, there are expectations and benchmarks that young fighters will look for at the start of their journey in the pro ranks. I asked Cooper what he is looking for and what he hopes to accomplish in the first year of his pro career.
“I want to make my name. I want to make a good statement and show who I am as a young prospect. Expand me as a person and get a lot of sponsorships down. Get about four or five fights before the year is up and just get out there, and it goes. Big statements and keep winning in a fashionable manner.”
This is just the beginning for Yoell Cooper. You have a personable, thoughtful, and insightful 18-year-old who sounded like a 28-year-old during the interview. His career is just getting started, but there is no question he is a name to be reckoned with in the future and one who will continue to make not only those in Newark but also fight fans throughout New Jersey proud.
Check out his second professional on Saturday, June 6th, at the Prudential Center on the Crossroads in Brick City card. Go to the Prudential Center website for more details.
