Cooper can dazzle in televised 8 rounder

Owen Cooper…first a big TV show, then big fights await

FOR dazzling prospect Owen Cooper victory is not enough on Saturday’s televised Telford International Centre bill. It’s the calibre of the victory that counts.

Those words may, to some, appear a little harsh. But that’s the pressure on the shoulders of fighters nudging towards big things.

That’s the pressure attached to boxers considered special. And at this stage in his career, Worcester’s Cooper looks something special and destined for big things.

The 22-year-old faces rugged Eber Tobar, a Colombian based in Spain, over eight rounds at the international centre.

Tobar, from all accounts, comes to fight and can be a handful, if allowed to be a handful.

He amassed an 11 fight unbeaten run (three draws)  but has now hit choppy waters as a pro.

In December, 2022, unbeaten Aleksander Berezewski knocked him out in one round in Poland.

Last month, Jacopo Fazzino, who sports an 8-6 record, starched him in four in Rome.

That’s not the performance you need before entering the lion’s den against Cooper, who many believe is a British champ in waiting. That’s not the form you need to be on to upset the applecart.

I would be mightily surprised if Cooper came a cropper against Tobar. Frankly, I’d be shocked.

Therefore, my eyes will be on Owen’s performance.

The fighter has oozed class in his seven fights to date and dazzled in his points victory over Jamie Stewart for the Midlands welter title. He gave a masterclass in head movement.

Those who, in the aftermath of that victory, pointed to Stewart’s limitations have missed the point. The Stoke fighter is one very tough individual who I watched from ringside engage in 10 rounds of trench warfare with Digbeth warrior Ben Fields. They went at it hammer and tongs from the get-go. Stewart was never hurt and retained his title through a draw.

No one has dominated Stewart the way Cooper did. He was schooled and took a shellacking.

That’s the measure of Cooper’s ability. I’d like to see him ooze class against the Colombian, then move on to much bigger things in his next bout.

He’s ready.

His trainer, Malcolm Melvin – a former top pro now considered something of a boxing sage – said: “The Colombian’s tough and it should be a nice fight for Owen.

“He’s trained unbelievably and sparred some very good kids. Listen, Owen’s a good lad and we’ll fight anyone in the (domestic) top 10.

“But we have to do our thing on Saturday and look good doing it. He’s trained very hard.”

Melvin, who, in boxing, has “been there, done that and worn the t-shirt”, refuses to be drawn on what the future holds for his fighter.

He said: “Owen has a very, very good chance of being a British champion, but, despite what some people would have you believe, they don’t give away those titles.”

Also, politics has a greater sway on the modern game that it should. The best aren’t always given the opportunity to be the best.

Melvin added: “Owen is getting better all the time and we’re getting nice feedback. One trainer told me after a sparring session, ‘I can’t believe how much he’s improved’.

“He’s still learning, he’s still growing.”