Cooper gets first six rounder at Excelsior
Ollie Cooper…Cannock’s hope given opportunity in home town
CANNOCK’S own Ollie Cooper will take part in his first six rounder in his hometown.
The unbeaten middleweight will face tough Dwain Grant at the Excelsior Club – Scott Murray’s new, plush sporting club based at the entrepreneur’s Premier Suite – on June 22.
It’s the Excelsior’s second date – and the show is really shaping-up.
Ireland’s former world junior champ Ray Moylette faces former rugged Midlands welter champ Jamie Stewart in what looks to be a cracking dust-up.
An opponent has yet to be announced for red hot Birmingham featherweight prospect Nyall Berry.
The night has also attracted a host of VIPs, including world champs Ray Mancini, Barry Jones and Richie Woodhall.
Make no mistake – Scott’s Excelsior,– a return to the black-tie days of elite pro boxing dinner shows, has hit the ground running.
I was there for the opening and it brought back memories of those glorious 1980s sporting club nights…without the cigar smoke.
And in 22-year-old Cooper the club seems to have pinned its colours to a very exciting new pro. Southpaw Ollie, exceptionally tall for a middle at 6ft 5ins, is aggressive and throws fast, classy combinations.
Trained by Richie Carter, he’s won all five bouts to date, all over four rounds, all on points. He’s yet to lose a session.
Dwain Grant, from Oldbury, seems to be the perfect opponent for this stage in Ollie’s career. The 39-year-old applies pressure, is experienced with 19 contests under his belt, and has mixed in good company: he took Ryan Kelly the full six rounds.
He’ll make it entertaining.
But he’s on a nine fight losing streak and Cooper appears too fresh, hungry and polished.
Away from the ring, Ollie is level headed and, in interview, steered clear from the “I’m a future world champ” made by a number of newcomers.
He told me: “I’m in the game to go as far as I can. Another two fights, then I want to challenge for a Midlands title. After that, the sky’s the limit.”
As an amateur, Ollie boxed for Great Wyrley and Rugeley, won 18 of 26 and collected three Midlands titles.
“I was bored with the amateurs,” he said of the decision to go pro. “I realised it had nothing to give me anymore. I prefer the pros because it’s a bit slower, the amateurs were a bit ‘bull at a gate’.
“The aim was to compete at super-welter (light-middle). When I turned over we realised it wasn’t possible to keep doing it (the weight) over a long period of time. As I fill out, I’ll probably make the transition to super-middle (12st).”
To date, Ollie has faced a string of tough veterans, including Kevin McCauley, a veteran of over 250 fights, and Lewis van Poetsch, who has 170 bouts to his name.