Redcliffe's role in Brooke's remarkable debut
Brooke Cooper, a two-time world Muay Thai champion from Burpengary, is just six weeks from an Australian sporting first.
The 21-year-old will make her boxing debut in the first ever women’s WBC (World Boxing Council) Australasian Lightweight title fight.
By taking the fight against Deedee Hobbs on July 16, Cooper, from Kaos Martial Arts in Morayfield, also gets a world boxing ranking.
Reignited the fire
Her preparations this week included sparring at Redcliffe City Boxing Club with state amateur featherweight novice champion Josh McCullough, 15.
“This is to get the sparring I need,” said Cooper, “to get into that (boxing) style of moving, which is what Deedee has got.
“I’m very excited. I had nearly 40 Muay Thai fights and tended to be fighting the same sort of people. This has reignited the fire (in me).”
'Big coup' for gym
Mal Challinor, who runs Redcliffe City Boxing Club with Bunger Johnson and Mark Dixon, said: “It’s a big coup for us. Getting different opponents is the best thing for Josh and works both ways.
“He gets experience with someone hardened in another sport and Brooke gets experience in boxing. It’s a big step from kickboxing.
“The better you spar someone, the better you become.”
Put to the test
Cooper, an investment administrator in Brisbane, is no stranger to the ring having won 27 and lost 12 of her 39 Muay Thai fights since starting nine years ago.
As a member of Kaos Martial Arts she has trained over nine years in Muay Thai, Toshi Kai Free Style Karate, MMA and boxing, but only competed in Muay Thai – until now.
All that will be put to the test in July when she steps into the ring against Deedee “The Silencer” Hobbs over eight three-minute rounds on the Gold Coast.
“Muay Thai title fights are five three-minute rounds,” said Cooper, nicknamed ‘Psycho’, “so this will just be another three rounds.”
Hands-only realm
Announcing the fight on her Facebook page, Cooper said “making a subtle entrance into the hands-only realm wasn't an option.”
Before training at Redcliffe City Boxing Club this week she explained: “Last year I was meant to have a boxing fight, but because of COVID couldn’t get the match.
“This year I’ve looked for a smaller one (debut), but I was not allowed to fight amateurs because of the number of Muay Thai fights I’ve had.”
'Very excited'
Hence the title fight with Hobbs, who trains at Stretton Boxing Club with Glenn Rushton, who guided Jeff Horn to the WBO World Welterweight title in 2017.
“It’s a big one and I’m very excited. Deedee is ranked three in the world and is just a boxer,” said Cooper.
Victory would add to her WMO Pro Muay Thai world title in March 2019 and WKBF Full Thai Lightweight world crown the following September.
World medals
There was also the WKA Intercontinental Pro Lightweight title in October 2019 and representing Australia at the IFMA World Championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017, medaling each time.
Cooper has also won two gold medals at the Muay Thai Australia National Championships, the WAKO Oceania K1 Championship, WAKO Australian K1 National Championship, WKBF Queensland lightweight and featherweight crowns and the WMC Queensland Junior Championship.
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