Cooper prefers boxing over booze
From a rogue rookie to a mature man. This, in a nutshell, is the story of one of Australia's most talented players - Quade Cooper.
The mercurial Wallaby playmakers, who will return to boxing next month, said that lacing up helps him stay out of trouble.
Cooper and code-swapping star Sonny Bill Williams will headline a 'fight night' in Australia in a line-up that also includes Rugby League player Paul Gallen and All Black Liam Messam.
Unbeaten in six heavyweight bouts, Williams will take on American Chauncy Welliver, a vastly experienced competitor who has won 55 of his 70 professional fights. However, Welliver - with 10 losses, five draws and 22 wins by knock-out - is coming off losses to undefeated Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne and Russian slugger Alexander Ustinov.
It will be the dual international's first fight since beating South African Francois Botha in a controversial encounter - which was reduced from 12 to 10 rounds by the Williams amp while the fight was in progress in February last year.
Organisers have yet to finalise an opponent for cruiserweight Cooper, who is undefeated in his two fights.
Cooper believes boxing will help keep him out of trouble outside it.
Apart from a number of well-documented incidents involving booze, Cooper was arrested for stealing laptops from a Gold Coast house after his first Wallabies tour back in 2009.
He said boxing would provide a good diversion away from the playing field ahead of his first provincial match of the Super Rugby season in February with the Queensland Reds.
"After my first tour, I got into a bit of trouble because all I wanted to do was drink alcohol," he told Australian Associated Press.
"So it's great having another outlet to help me stay fit and focused.
"The difficult part is seeing everybody else go on holidays but understanding this is my choice.
"I think it benefits me not only as an athlete but as a person ... this is pretty much the most difficult time to be able to stay focused on any kind of working out."
Cooper added that Wallaby coach Michael Cheika had thrown his support behind him, offering to buy him a pair of gloves.
"I looked at it as a different way to do some fitness," Cooper told AAP.
"[It was] just a few rounds on one of the captain's runs.
"I was going to look at finding a gym and do some boxing anyway and Cheika just hit me up and said he'll go buy some gloves.
Cooper said he spoke to Cheika after the tour and the coach agreed boxing would help the 26-year-old to stay focused, something the 53-Test star hasn't always managed to do during his Christmas holiday breaks.
He believes boxing will give him a head start in a hotly-contested race for a playmaker's spot in Australia's 2015 World Cup campaign.
Not only is Cooper battling with playmakers Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale, Matt Toomua and Christian Leali'ifano, but James O'Connor's return to Australian rugby and Karmichael Hunt's defection from AFL to the Reds further adds to Cheika's embarrassment of backline riches.
"Next year is a massive year for every nation," Cooper said.
"And every player talks about ways of getting extra percentages - whether it be half a per cent, one per cent or two per cent, and I think boxing is my edge.
"The competition for spots is really hot, but that's what you want.
"You want to be part of a team that's tough to make.
"If you're a walk-up start every year, that only breeds complacency."
Source: AAP