Ollie keeps busy on sell-out Stoke show
Ollie Cooper…closing in on major titles. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB
OLLIE Cooper, zeroing in on a belt more significant than the Midlands super-middleweight title he possesses, stays sharp with a slot on a Potteries punching extravaganza.
The tall Cannock prospect features on the sold-out July 26 Kings Hall, Stoke, show headlined by the city’s favourite sporting son Nathan Heaney, writes PAUL WEBB.
Ollie, unbeaten in 10 bouts, will compete in a six-rounder at the packed venue. "I'm buzzing to be back out boxing again and keeping active - it's the most important thing for me now," the 24-year-old said. "I said it after my last fight – I want to be busy, and this is a really good show for me to be a part of."
Cooper, trained by Richard Carter, looked sensational in capturing the Midlands 12 stone title last November, stopping the previously unbeaten Liam O'Hare inside six rounds. That breakthrough win saw the rangy southpaw climb the British rankings and earn widespread praise. He followed the performance with a non-title fight against the tricky Serhii Ksendzov in March, winning every one of the six rounds.
"I was frustrated in some ways because I wanted to get him out of there, and I almost did,” said Ollie. “But it ended up going the full six rounds and I got to show things we have been working on. We have been focusing a lot on my power and this fight will be another chance to demonstrate that."
Training at the Wolverhampton Boxing Club has never been better. Cooper is pushed on by talented stablemates Gully Powar, Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards and Lewis Morris.
Away from the ring, Cooper has embraced the challenging physical demands of Hyrox competitions – a new endeavour he believes is significantly benefiting his boxing.
He said: “The gym is thriving. Most of us turned pro at the same time, so we are on similar paths and I love being part of it. I'm a very competitive person when it comes to anything physical, and the Hyrox events have taken my overall fitness and strength through the roof. I won't lie, it's disgustingly hard, but I really enjoy it and I am seeing the benefits for my boxing.”
Given former British middleweight champ Nathan Heaney's immense popularity, the show was almost immediately a sell-out. That meant Cooper wasn’t burdened by the pressure of selling tickets and could focus solely on training.
He added: "After this I want any form of title fight – English, British or to defend my Midlands, whatever's the best option for me to take. There will be a lot of eyes on this show, and it's a chance to showcase what I do. Normally I'd be spending time selling tickets, dropping them off in the evening. This time my focus is solely on the fight and my training; it's given me the extra push."
*The main event on July 26 sees Nathan Heaney box back in Stoke for the first time in five years against the experienced Grant Dennis. The undercard also features an exciting English welterweight title fight between BCB's Ben Vaughan and Bobby Dalton, along with the unbeaten duo of Lewis Lawton and Levi Vaughan.