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Amazing Road That Melinda Cooper has Taken in and out of the Ring!
by Sue TL Fox
August 4, 2023
     
   
   


 

(AUG 4) It has been quite an amazing road for retired world champion and Hall of Famer Melinda "La Maravilla" Cooper, of Las Vegas, Nevada. 

I first began covering Melinda Cooper when she was just a mere kid, as an amateur boxer.  One day as I was checking out the emails coming into WBAN, we received a photo of Cooper from Las Vegas Photographer Mary Ann Owen.  Owen went on to introduce me to this young amateur and kept WBAN updated for many years as Cooper progressed throughout the sport.


Photo credits:  Mary Ann Owen
2020 IWBHF Inductee/Las Vegas Photographer - First photo

Needless to say, WBAN has followed, covered, and reported countless fights and achievements, including when we named her WBAN's Fighter of the month in 2005 in the process. 


Photo Credits: Courtesy Photos

The 5'2½" bantamweight Melinda Cooper was born in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She began boxing in 1996 after meeting trainer James Pena at the Nevada Partners gym.

Cooper went on to compile a depth of ring experience as an amateur boxer that is quite rare among U.S.  female fighters, some of whom still make their pro debuts with no amateur experience at all.

Cooper became the first female from Nevada to win a USA Boxing National Championship. At the 2000 US Everlast national championships she won all three of her bouts in the 106-lb junior (age 15-16) division.  She won the 125-lb junior division at the 2001 Women's National Golden Gloves with a 5-0 decision over Takesha Graham of Fort Meyers, Florida.  Melinda completed her amateur career with an impressive 37-2 total record.

In yet another major milestone for Cooper was when she  turned pro.  She made history by becoming the first female to be licensed by the state of Nevada to box professionally under the age of 18.  Cooper proceeded to make her  pro debut at age 17 on March 23, 2002 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Cooper won that bout by a unanimous decision.


Photo Credit:  Courtesy/Melinda Cooper

Cooper continued to fight from many years, and winning a world title in the process, retiring in 2014, having 25 pro fights during her career with a (23-2-0 11KO) record.

In 2017, Cooper became a Police Officer in Las Vegas. She told WBAN, "I joined Las Vegas Metro in 2017. I wanted to help my community and be apart of it in a bigger way."

In 2020, Melinda Cooper was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame, and was honored August 14, 2021 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas, the following year, as the IWBHF had to cancel the event in 2020 due to Covid.

We have added Melinda Cooper in our "Women Cops Who Box" segment on WBAN!  Link
 

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