European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                College football a pages 21, 22, 24 and 26 a. Quot. A a a a a a a i Holyfield survives Knockdown stops Cooper in 7 to keep title Champion evander Holyfield top attacks challenger Bert Cooper in first round. By Dave Raffo Atlanta up Champion evander Holyfield survived the first Knockdown of his pro career saturday night to Stop a a smoking Bert Cooper in the seventh round of a Savage heavyweight title bout. Holyfield decked Cooper in the first went Down in the third and finally stopped the 22-1 underdog challenger with 21 unanswered punches before referee Mills Lane mercifully stopped it with two seconds left in the seventh round. Coopers handlers argued Mills decision but Holyfield was Way ahead on All three judges cards. A the did no to give up a Holyfield said. A the was aggressive enough to put me in a fight i did no to want to be  fighting before a crowd of More than 12,000 at his Hometown Omni Holyfield won his toughest bout to stay unbeaten in 27 pro bouts. Cooper who was a late replacement surprised practically everyone in the Arena with his performance. Cooper rocked Holyfield with a right Early in the third round and flurried to Knock Holyfield Over the ropes. Lane ruled it a Knockdown because the ropes held the Champion up. Following an eight count Cooper fired away in Hopes of scoring one of the greatest upsets in boxing history. Holyfield held on and Cooper appeared to punch himself out. Holyfield then went on the attack and battered the challenger with 12 straight punches. Still a Cooper right sent Holyfield staggering to his Corner at the Bell. Holyfield ripped Cooper with 17 straight shots in the opening minute of the fifth round a Many of them right uppercuts that snapped Cooper s head Back. This time Holyfield appeared to punch himself out. Both fighters got a break with 1 00 left in the round when Holyfield s right Glove ripped and there was a 2 30 delay while it was repaired. One of Cooper s Corderman gave him a Stool and he sat in a Neutral Corner bleeding from the Mouth and right Eye. The two went toe to toe the rest of the Way with Holyfield tearing into Cooper with right uppercuts to the Chin. Cooper kept smiling and firing Back with shots to the head and body. Cooper a 25-year-old Philadelphia native who lives in Salem va., fell to 26-8. A i was in shape a Cooper said. A i know 1 Hurt him  Holyfield Hurt Cooper with a left Hook to the head in the opening minute then put him Down with a Hook to the body Midway through the round. Cooper took a three count and did not appear badly Hurt. At 210, Holyfield was outweighed by five pounds but the 6-foot-2 Champion had a 2 a a Inch height and 3 Winch reach advantage Over the challenger. The stars and stripes november 25,1991 b rage to Holyfield 29, made the second defense of the title he won by knocking out Buster Douglas oct. 25, 1990. He won a unania Mous 12-round decision Over George Foreman Iri april. Cooper took the fight on six Days notice As a replacement for a substitute. Holyfield was to fight former Champion Mike Tyson for $30 million nov. 8, but Tyson pulled out with a rib injury. Italian Francesco Damiani was signed As a replacement but suffered an ankle injury and pulled out last sunday. Holyfield earned close to $7 million while Cooper made $500,000. Holyfield was fighting in his Hometown for the third time As a pro and the first since he won the cruiserweight title on a 15-round decision Over Dwight Qadi july 20, 1986. He reigned As cruiserweight Champion until moving up to the heavyweight division in 1988, and has won nine bouts As a heavyweight. Holyfield a Bronze medallist in the 1984 olympics turned pro nov. 15, 1984 with a six round decision Over Lionell Byarm in new York. Cooper turned pro As an 18-year-old Prodigy of former heavyweight Champion a a smoking a Joe Frazier. Coopers style and physical resemblance to Frazier earned him his nickname. He has lost his biggest fights getting knocked out by Foreman Riddick Bowe Carl a the truth Williams Nate Miller and Reggie Gross and losing decisions to Ray Mercer and Everett Martin. On the under card Lennox Lewis improved to 18-0 with 16 knockouts when he decked Tyrell Biggs three times in the third round for a to. Also heavyweight Michael Moorer improved to 26-0 with 26 knockouts when he stopped Bobby Crabtree 43-24-1, in one round cuban heavyweight Jorge Gonzalez won in one round Over Mark George Light heavyweight Egerton Marcus won a unanimous decision Over Pat Alley and Tim Littles won a fifth round to Over Ken  sports nil standings summaries a Page 24 Galaxy tryout draws 100, few prospects a Page 25 Kings finally win on Road a Page 27 Seles Navratilova in final a Page 27 Cooper wins respect if not title Atlanta up a a smoking Quot Bert c Ooper lost his reputation As a quitter saturday night while losing the biggest fight of his life. Cooper a 22-1 underdog dropped heavyweight Champ evander Holyfield in the third round and stood up to barrage after barrage from Holyfield before referee Mills Lane stopped the bout with two seconds left in the seventh round. Cooper was a different Man than the one who quit after two rounds of a 1989 fit it with Georis a Foreman then tested positive for cocaine. Besides the biggest payday of his career a $500,000 a Cooper gained More respect than lie has Ever received. A Ebert Cooper came within a half Inch of being the heavyweight Champion of the world Quot Cooper s promoter Rick Parker said. A the proved lie s not a second rate fighter and he proved lie s not a drug  Quot Lane was criticized by Cooper and his handlers for stopping the Savage Battle with Cooper standing and Only two seconds left in the round. But he too praised Coopers performance. A the s such a Tough kid a Lane said. A you know How Many times head been hit before the end. Bert Cooper s a hell of a Man he fought a hell of a fight. Cooper went Down from a left Hook to the body in the opening round but draped Holyfield Over the ropes in the third round. Lane called it a Knockdown a the first of Holyfield a pro career a because Only the ropes held the Champion up