‘Where’s the credit?’ Melvin asks after top draw win by Cooper

Owen Cooper…back with a bang. Stock image: Manjit Narotra/BCB

“WHERE is the credit?” no-nonsense trainer Malcolm Melvin demanded following Owen Cooper’s superb victory on Queensberry’s major show at the Motorsport Arena.

Melvin feels strongly the Worcester welter’s Saturday night points win – 96-94 on referee Kevin Parker’s card – has not received the plaudits it deserves, certainly from the “experts”, commentators and analysts.

Now the dust has settled on a fine 10 rounder, the measure of the 24-year-old’s achievement can be soaked in.

Cooper was coming off a stoppage loss to Ekow Essuman – his first defeat. He had been out of the ring for 10 months. He plunged straight back in the deep end against a dangerous, avoided 6ft 1ins opponent who had lost only  two of 19. This was only his 12th contest.

Perhaps Melvin has a point.

“There is no credit,” Melvin insisted. “Owen was very good – a year off, the pressure of the fight and an opponent who is coming to win. Kongo is a proud fighter, he’s ranked number four in the division above Owen.

“I’m telling you, the credit comes from Frank Warren and his people. The amount of pressure on us to produce a performance, you do feel it a bit. You are under pressure to really deliver, you’ve got to step up to the plate. If we’d been offered a soft touch we’d be at the back of the pecking order.”

Bermondsey’s Kongo caused early problems behind his long jab before Cooper began to relentlessly grind him down.

“Owen didn’t have a career packed with GB titles, he turned pro at 18. He did get caught with a few shots, but that’s his nature. There are a lot more positives than negatives.

“Kongo’s corner knew they lost, they were telling him from the eighth he needed to knock Owen out. It was a hard fight, but I thought 96-94 was way off.

“The commentary was so biased, it was farcical. Kongo was coming forward for the first minute of the round, half the time he was running round the ring. How are you supposed to win a fight doing that?

“Owen is going to fight better than that, that’s the frightening thing. You have to give ‘props’ to Kongo – he’s very awkward, he was in the GB team, an elite amateur. That’s why I don’t think Owen has got the credit for what he’s done. I’ve seen fighters do less things and get bigger headlines.

“Maybe in a couple of days I’ll feel less touchy and sensitive, but Owen was very comfortable in there. He has that old school mentality as fighter and as a man. He doesn’t bad mouth people, he’s humble, he doesn’t do all the bull****.”

The future looks very bright for Cooper who now must be within touching distance of a British title shot.

Melvin added: “The winner stays on. Frank Warren said whoever wins gets a very big fight. (British champ) Conah Walker is a great lad, a great fighter, we respect him massively, but obviously we’d love a British title shot.”