Gully, Ollie coast to whitewash victories
Cooper unloads on outgunned Courtney. Pictures: Manjit Narotra/BCB
AT the King’s Hall, two stars of Richie Carter’s thriving Wolverhampton gym marked time as they prepare for much bigger tests.
And both Gully Powar and Ollie Cooper had things all their own way on Saturday’s big Stoke bill, with neither dropping a round.
Cooper was provided with the perfect tune-up as he prepares for a Midlands super-middleweight defence. On September 13 in Cannock he puts the belt on the line against experienced Tom Ramsden.
It’s a little unkind, but Gritty Dylan Courtney provided perfect target practice. He took everything the tall Cannock southpaw threw – and Ollie threw plenty, to see out the six one-sided rounds. Referee Chris Dean scoring a 60-53 landslide for Cooper.
Yet It seemed as if Cooper (12st 8lbs) was in for an early night when Courtney was toppled by a right hand in the first.
The Cornish visitor (12st 13lbs) was up at eight, survived the following storm and, from then on, took eye-catching punches to head and body. At times he took them with a sickly smile on his face.
My notes for the second round summed up the encounter: “Cooper can’t miss.”
It was one-way traffic. As the bout progressed, Cooper, now unbeaten in 11, appeared to use sessions as an opportunity to try out gym moves, adding sharp left uppercuts to his repertoire. It appeared he chose to ease off the pedal.
Afterwards, Carter said: “That was perfect, I’m over the moon – Ollie did everything right against a tough lad. He done a masterclass.”
Wolverhampton feather Gully Powar (10st 4lbs) warmed-up for much bigger things with shut-out victory over Paul Scaife, who took his lumps in their four rounder. Referee Churchill scored 40-36.
Gully Powar dominates Paul Scaife in their four rounder
A late addition to the show, this was 22-year-old Gully’s first outing since his magnificent June stand against world ranked Mexican puncher Brandon Mosqueda. That Riyadh points loss is the only blemish in a 14 fight career.
There is something significant brewing for Powar, though, as yet, I can’t make out the gym whispers. BCB, his promotional team, want a mandatory shot at the British title, although I’d be surprised if the Board of Control consented.
He could, however, land a Lonsdale Belt opportunity as a voluntary challenger.
Powar unleashed his complete arsenal against Sheffield journeyman Scaife (10st 7lbs) and connected with withering liver shots.
Scaife, his face flushed, took them and attempted to keep on the move.
He hooked to head and body, appeared to drop down a gear in the third. In the last, he ditched the eye-catching hooks for jabs and straight punches.
On social media, busy Powar – Saturday’s bout was his third in as many months, posted: “Back to winning ways, I want the British title next.”