Cooper itching for a British title chance
Owen Cooper with trainer Melvin at the recent Midlands boxing awards
“BRITISH title, he’s more than capable of that.” That’s the matter-of-fact verdict delivered by welter sensation Owen Cooper’s no-nonsense trainer, Malcolm Melvin.
It’s a statement that should not be dismissed as mere spin or gym hype. Melvin, a former top Birmingham pro, is not known for over-inflating his fighters’ worth. For better or worse, he tells it as it is.
And at this stage, Cooper, who has breathed pro boxing life back into his home city of Worcester, looks something special.
At just 22 and with eight straight wins, he appears to have a glittering future ahead. Worryingly for Britain’s band of contenders, he is still to hit his peak.
Cooper is back in big show action at Telford International Centre on July 29, the bill topped by Liam Davies’ super-bantam battle with Jason Cunningham.
At the same venue in March, Owen overwhelmed Eber Tovar in two.
Disappointingly for fans and this writer, this month’s contest is not the break-through contest Cooper craves. Nicaraguan Robin Zamora has lost 21 of 40 and, in May, failed to last a round against Kent prospect Sean Noakes.
But a headline contest may be round the corner for Cooper. I understand there are plans to match the winner of unbeaten Eithan James and Jamie Moorcroft, who meet for the vacant WBO European title on the same Telford show, with Owen.
Zamora is usually resilient. He’s only failed to hear the final bell on eight occasions. The fact nine of his 19 wins have come early suggests Zamora carries decent power.
Salford’s Luke Evans outpointed him in March, as did Manchester’s Jake James last December.
Cooper, who looked so classy in totally dominating tough Jamie Stewart for the Midlands title, appears to have too much of everything to be troubled by Zamora.
But such “mark time” fights bring their own pressure. Winning is not enough: Cooper’s performance will be measured against that of other British fighters who have faced Zamora.
In the lead-up to the contest, Owen has enjoyed top sparring, including a session with British welterweight champ Ekow Essuman.
“It was a great spar,” said Melvin. “Afterwards, Ekow contacted Owen with some tips. That’s a class act, that shows massive class.”
Melvin has no doubt his fighter is something special.
“We will fight anyone in the (domestic) top 10, and that’s not an idle boast,” he said. “I think Owen can be as good as he wants to be. He’s more than capable of winning a British title.
“I see lads ranked above him who are not half the fighters Owen is. Owen is ready for a big step up, we want to push on.
“He’s had a few hiccups with injuries, but, at the moment, he is on fire. Listen, you need a bit of luck, you need to be in the right place at the right time, but Owen can achieve very big things.
“He done a number on Jamie Stewart that no one has done before or done since.”
And Melvin warned: “Owen is only going to get better. He is only 22 and is still developing. With each fight Owen is showing a bit more of what he can do.”
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