Yoell “Boy Boy the Butcher” Cooper Is Boxing’s Next Young Problem

At just 18 years old, the Newark fighter is stepping into the ring with discipline, power, and something to prove ahead of his June 6 fight at Prudential Center.

There is a lot of noise around boxing right now.

Between viral moments, public quarrels, social media chatter, and conversations about professionalism in the sport, boxing is once again sitting at the center of culture. But while some of the attention has been focused on what happens outside the ring, 18-year-old Yoell “Boy Boy the Butcher” Cooper is making people pay attention for a different reason.

Discipline.

Yoell “Boy Boy the Butcher” Cooper is an 18-year-old professional boxer from Newark, New Jersey, quickly becoming one of the most exciting young names to watch in the sport. The rising boxing sensation is not just talking like he wants greatness. He is living like it.

Cooper wakes up at 5 a.m. for strength training before school, trains twice a day, has nearly 100 amateur fights under his belt, has won multiple national championships, and recently made his professional debut in a major way with a first-round knockout victory at Prudential Center in front of his hometown crowd.

Known for his aggressive fighting style inside the ring and calm spirit outside of it, Yoell represents a refreshing side of boxing’s next generation. He is focused, grounded, hungry, and very clear about the kind of name he wants to build.

With nearly 100 amateur fights, multiple national championships, and a powerful professional debut that ended in a first-round knockout at Prudential Center, Cooper is building his name with skill, discipline, and undeniable hometown pride. His next fight takes place June 6 at Prudential Center.

Ahead of his highly anticipated fight, SHEEN Magazine caught up with Yoell Cooper to talk Newark, sacrifice, discipline, social media, knockouts, and why when Boy Boy steps into the ring, fans should expect a show.

Before the lights, before the knockouts, before the attention, who was Yoell “Boy Boy the Butcher” Cooper as a boy growing up in Newark?

Yoell Cooper: I was really just an average kid. I went to school, played outside, rode bikes and scooters, and hung out with friends. I grew up on a dead-end block, so everybody was close. We played basketball, rode around, and did regular kid stuff. Boxing has been part of my life for a long time, but before that, I was just outside having fun like any other kid.

When did boxing first enter the picture for you?

I started when I was 5 years old. My dad used to do pads with my older sister so she could learn how to throw her hands. I would come into the room and copy her, throwing punches and messing with her. One day my mom saw me and told my dad, “Look at my son. He looks like he’s got it.” At first, my dad wasn’t really trying to take me to the gym, but then my mom said she would have another man train his son. He didn’t like that, so the next day I was in the gym.

So your mom basically helped light the fire?

Yeah, she did. Then I knew boxing was for me after my first sparring session. My dad took me to a gym in Paterson, New Jersey. It was a real hole in the wall type of gym. I sparred a kid who was about 9 years old, and I was only 5. I showed a lot of grit and heart. After that, someone gave me my first pair of boxing shoes. That was when I realized I loved boxing.

You are only 18, but you move with a grown man level of discipline. Where does that come from?

I have been doing this for a long time, so it is in me now. I am used to waking up, getting work in before school, going to school, and then training again after school. Sometimes it gets tiring and sometimes you want rest, but it pays off when fight time comes. When you get those knockouts and see the results, it makes you want to keep working hard, stay disciplined, and keep everything balanced.

Boxing is getting a lot of attention right now, especially with drama inside and outside the ring. What do you think young fighters should represent in this era of viral moments and social media controversy?

Young fighters should stay focused, humble, disciplined, and motivated. A lot of people get caught up in the wrong things. Social media can be good, but it can also mess you up. Social media can help with publicity, but you still have to stay on the right path. Even if you use social media, you have to stay disciplined and know what you are doing.

You made your professional debut at Prudential Center in front of your hometown crowd and ended it with a first-round knockout. What did that moment feel like for you as a Newark fighter?

I was elated that day. I was more than excited and more than happy. You only get one debut, and mine was beautiful. My family, friends, and supporters were all there. When I came out, I heard everybody screaming, “Go Boy Boy!” and “We want Boy Boy!” It was surreal. I had thought about that moment since I was a kid, so for it to happen like that was amazing.

People see the confidence, the aggression, and the fighter, but they may not always see the sacrifice. What have you had to give up at your age?

I have missed a lot of school parties, games, and fun things. I am still in high school, still a senior, so there are things I have had to give up. As a young person, you want to go outside and have fun, but sometimes you have to sacrifice that for boxing. If you want boxing to pay off, you have to give it your time and really commit to it.

Did your discipline come from your parents pushing you, or did it wake up in you on its own?

It was a little bit of both. My dad, my mom, my aunt, and my supporters helped keep me on track. But I also know for myself that I want this. The support from my family and my own drive all add up and make me who I am.

Now we have to talk about the name. How did you become “The Butcher”?

“The Butcher” came from me stopping a lot of guys in the amateurs. I would break them down slowly, go to the body, and stop fights with body shots. I was chopping guys up, kind of like how a butcher chops meat. I also like Benny the Butcher the rapper, so it all came together and made sense.

When people talk about the future of boxing, where do you want your name to be in that conversation?

I want to be one of the top guys. I want to be a world champion and a household name in boxing. I want boxing to remember me for what I did as a young professional and as I grow in the sport. I want to leave a big mark on boxing.

Boxing is physical, but it is also mental, emotional, and very disciplined. What does your eating and training regimen look like?

I eat well, but I still enjoy food. I might eat a cheeseburger sometimes, but when it is time to lock in, I lock in. About two months before a fight, I start eating better and getting my body right for camp. I eat salads and go to Cava a lot because they have healthy food that makes you feel good without feeling stuffed. I also drink a lot of water. Water is very important. Eating right and putting the right things in my body helps me feel good when it is time to fight.

What can people expect from you next?

I am coming to bring the pain, the blood, and the guts. I want people to know that when Boy Boy comes, it is going to be an exciting fight. I am coming for knockouts. I want people to feel like they are watching an action movie when I fight, like Avengers or Batman fighting a villain. I want to entertain the people and give them what they want to see. 

In a sport where image can sometimes get louder than intention, Yoell “Boy Boy the Butcher” Cooper is letting discipline speak first. He is young, but not careless. Confident, but not distracted. Aggressive in the ring but grounded outside of it. And if his professional debut was any indication, Newark’s own Boy Boy is not just showing up to fight. He is showing up to make people remember his name.

Keep Up with Yoell “Boy Boy” Cooper: @butcherseason