Melinda Cooper Makes History as youngest to be licensed in Nevada

LAS VEGAS (MAR 21, 2002) This morning, 17-year-old amateur boxer and champion Melinda Cooper became the first female, and only one of three boxers to be approved in the state of Nevada to box professionally before the age of 18. She joins the company of Francisco Panchito Bojado and Clarence “Bones” Adams. Cooper will be making her pro debut this weekend at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas. She will be facing Annie Middleton
0-2-0 for her first time in the ring as a professional.

When Melinda 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. The move became necessary as it was becoming increasingly difficult to find amateurs who were willing to fight her. Pena said he tried to enter Cooper in tournaments at the last minute to keep her a secret, because “girls would find out that Melinda was in the weight class and everyone would drop out.”

Melinda made her pro debut at age  17 on March 23, 2002 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing in at 116 lbs and winning a four-round unanimous decision over Annalisa Middleton (120 lbs) of Oxnard, California, who fell to 0-3.