As a young man growing up in Philadelphia, Bert Cooper was looking for the path his life would take.
"I was 16 and a bodybuilder," Cooper said. "A nice older woman asked me if I wanted to be a boxer. I told my dad about it and he took me to the gym.
"That woman really gave me the inspiration, put the idea in my head. I was looking for that."
Cooper still feels that inspiration. He will be fighting Chauncy Welliver, ranked No. 6 by the WBC and No. 7 by the WBO, tonight in Jefferson City at Capitol Plaza Hotel in one of six heavyweight bouts on the card that begins at 7 p.m.