"He was kind of big, but I'm an experienced fighter and I'm used to fighting big guys," Cooper said. "I wanted to take my time, walk him down. I knew I was going to get him. It was only a matter of time. Every time I hit him on the nose, the blood just spurted out."
Wade didn't fault referee Arthur Mercante Sr. for stepping in and stopping the fight, but he said his bloody nose looked worse than it really was.
"All that blood makes you look like you're getting your butt kicked," Wade said. "I don't think I was getting my butt kicked. (Cooper) was winning the fight because he did more effective work on the inside, but he was getting tired, too. If the fight had continued, I think I would have controlled the last couple of rounds with my hand speed."
Wade, from Indianapolis, was an unknown commodity in these parts coming in. He has been one of the busiest fighters around, logging 18 bouts since turning professional last Jan. 22. Almost all his fights had been in the Midwest, however, and the list of his opponents doesn't exactly read like a who's who of ring greats.
"I never saw any tapes of the guy," Cooper said. "I knew he was big and probably didn't punch too hard because he didn't have many knockouts. But he has some skills. He kind of reminds me of a young Tony Tubbs."
Wade's physique is flabby, but he said that other heavyweights have done well carrying around a few extra pounds. Besides, he said, you should have seen him before he took up boxing.
"I'd like to walk around at 215 pounds, but I know that's never going to happen," said the 6-3 Wade.
