Cooper given tough test by rugged Pole

Cooper jars Polasik with powerful left. Picture by MICHAEL AULT

HIS last bout – a baptism over six rounds, was tough, last night’s assignment in his hometown was tougher for Ollie Cooper.

In the glamorous surroundings of Cannock’s Premier Suite, Cooper was forced to dig deeper than he has before by menacing Pole Patryk Polasik.

The southpaw, who somehow fits his 6ft 5ins frame into the middleweight division, won beyond argument, referee Peter McCormack’s 59-55 score tallying with mine.

But it was a hard fought victory. I’ve been ringside for four of unbeaten Ollie’s seven contests and for the first time I witness a punch truly register on the tall Cannock hope.

A left hook followed by a looping right in the third momentarily froze Cooper and spilt blood from his nose. For a brief moment, the shock of that shot made Ollie tentative. And when he was tentative, he was vulnerable against the powerful super-middle, who bulled forward, swinging from both arms.

That, it appears, was not lost on trainer Richard Carter. Following the brief drama, Cooper kept long punches flowing from both hands, forcing Polasik back under the stream of leather. On the retreat, Polasyk (12st 1lbs 3oz) was not a threat.

Getting him on the back foot was the key. Cooper did that by keeping the punches straight and accurate.

Ollie said afterwards: “The last one was a tough fight, this was 10 times tougher. He wanted it and gave it all he could. I don’t need the fighters who fall over after a punch or two. That’s because when it’s time for a real step-up, I’ll be ready, not semi-ready.”

Cooper, aged 23, has found a boxing base at Scott Murray’s Excelsior. Judging by the chants that filled the Premier Suite during his contest, the partnership is mutually beneficial.

What last night represented was a perfect learning fight. Polasik may have modest credentials, with one win in 14 (one draw), but he certainly came to spoil the Cooper family’s party.

A tired Cooper is interviewed by Richie Woodhall. Pic: JULIE LOCKLEY

Wolverhampton’s Carter, astute and well respected, knows what he’s doing, his knowledge is broader than mine.

There are already calls for talented Cooper to take the step up to championship class, but I feel he’d benefit from further six round outings. I’d like to see him in an eight. He has the look of a prospect who needs to settle into the pace of a boxing marathon.

Carter assures me Ollie comfortably makes the middleweight division. He looked lean at last night’s weight of 11st 12lbs 6oz and may punch with more potency at super-middle.

That said, Carter has got it right all the way through Ollie’s pro apprenticeship – and Polasik was exactly the right opponent for where his boxer is today.

Cooper doubled his jab in the early rounds while the Pole threatened with hooks. Ollie brought straight southpaw lefts into play in the second and seemed on his way to routine victory.

Then, in the third, Polasik detonated. That session provided positives and negatives: yes, Cooper was rattled, but he absorbed the punch and was blazing back by the end of the three minutes.

What’s more, he grabbed the contest by the scruff of the neck in the fourth. A big left sent Polasik into the ropes and for the first time he looked ragged and demoralised. He seemed on the verge of being swamped.

Ollie kept up the pressure in the fifth, with the sixth becoming a little untidy as both felt the pace.

It’s a very old adage, but last night underlined Cooper is a work in progress. He was given a test and passed it.

Stiffer tests await.