Brooke closing in on world ranking

Burpengary’s Brooke Cooper, already a two-time Muay Thai world champion, may be just 16 minutes from a world boxing ranking.

The 22-year-old will face a Thai opponent on the Gold Coast this month for the WBC Australasian female lightweight title.

The winner, over eight two-minute rounds on March 25, will get a world ranking from the World Boxing Council (WBC).

It will be Cooper’s third professional boxing fight, but second for this title having lost her pro debut on a unanimous decision to Deedee Hobbs last July.

Vacant title

However, Hobbs has vacated the title and dropped down a weight giving Cooper, who trains at Kaos Martial Arts in Morayfield, another shot.

“The girl I am facing has similar experience, Muay Thai and pro boxing and is probably a bit shorter than me,” said Cooper, a former Narangba Valley State High School student.

“I feel I am improving. Confidence has a lot to do with it after fighting Australia’s best.”

An executive investment administrator in East Brisbane by day, Cooper had her first boxing win when she stopped Amanda Klein in four rounds in December.

'I love it'

“I know what I need to do,” said Cooper, whose fight nickname is ‘Psycho’, “these sports (boxing and Muay Thai) need dedication and discipline.

“There are no excuses for not training and doing the hard work. The stakes are always high, but the atmosphere at shows is great. I love it.”

Cooper has trained at Kaos Martial Arts for more than nine years in Muay Thai, Toshi Kai Free Style Karate, MMA and boxing.

But she but only competed in Muay Thai – which uses fists, elbows, knees and shins - until facing Hobbs last year.

Impressive haul

She was hoping for an easier ‘hands-only’ (boxing) debut, but with 39 Muay Thai fights behind her – won 27, lost 12 - was not permitted to take on amateurs.

Cooper won the WMO Pro Muay Thai world title in March 2019 and WKBF Full Thai Lightweight world crown six months later.

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, medalling each time.

Cooper has 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.