Cooper closing in on Midlands title fight

Ollie Cooper…fights in his home town of Cannock next month

TOWERING Cannock middleweight Ollie Cooper believes he’s one fight away from a Midlands title shot.

And Ollie wants that to happen at a venue that has become his fight base, Scott Murray’s Excelsior Sports Club in the boxer’s hometown.

Southpaw Cooper, trained by Richie Carter, looks for his seventh straight win at the plush, Premier Suite based club on Thursday, September 28. No opponent has been named, but it will be a six rounder.

After that, Ollie wants to jump to 10 rounders.

“I want to get this one out of the way and then I want a Midlands title fight,” the 22-year-old said. “That’s the plan. I think me and Scott want that to happen. I’ve spoken to him and he’s on board.”

Ollie took part in his first six rounder at the Excelsior in June and handily outpointed tough Pavol Garaj, although he appeared to be feeling the pace down the home stretch.

“It was tough,” he admitted, “tougher than expected. I need one more (six rounder). Garaj was tough and tricky. He knew what he was doing and turned it on in the fifth and sixth. It was great experience.”

Looking at 6ft 5ins tall Cooper, it’s hard to believe the fighter can fit his long frame into the middleweight division. He says making 11-and-a-half stone is not yet a problem.

“It’s easilty do-able at present,” he assured me. “But as I get older, the move to super-middle will be inevitable.”

Cannock has waited a long time for a significant title fight. Cooper could make it happen sooner rather than later.