Is Cooper set for a swift Ekow return?

Owen Cooper...Worcester welter burning to right a wrong

RUMOURS abound that Owen Cooper is to get what he yearns for – an immediate re-match with the man who took his “0” last time out.

Nothing official, certainly no confirmation from the Worcester welter’s team, but the word in gyms is Cooper will again face Ekow Essuman in early November.

That’s less than four months after the pair played out an epic with Owen’s WBO European and English titles on the line.

Former British champ Essuman, dropped heavily and on the brink of defeat, pulled the fat out of the fire with a last round stoppage. It was a truly breath-taking battle.

If 23-year-old Cooper has been given a fast-track to redemption, I’m frankly surprised. Essuman would appear to have everything to lose and little to gain. Cash has to be the incentive.

Owen’s trainer Malcolm Melvin insisted he’s been given no official notice, but confirmed his fighter wants to step straight back in the fray against Ekow.

“It’s a fight Owen wants,” he said. “I think Owen wants it more than anything. In this day and age when everyone wants a perfect record, that speaks volumes about him. He’s old school. I admire him for that – he wants to right a wrong.”

Melvin, a former British title contender, believes Cooper’s lack of seasoned pro savvy – it was only his 11th contest – played a major part in the outcome.

He said: “We didn’t under-estimate Ekow Essuman once, he’s a class act, we have no problems in that regard. We trained for the best Ekow Essuman. It was a gamble, but a gamble worth taking.

“I do think it will make Owen a better fighter and I do think it will be a different fight next time. He knows the mistakes he made. It happened to me, I became a better fighter because of it. You realise you are not invincible, you realise you can be hurt by someone at your own weight. It’s a jolter, you think, ‘I’ve got to sharpen up’. It made me a better defensive fighter.

“Owen is a very knowledgeable boxer and now he knows you have to be a bit cleverer at that level. There are times when you have to be a little more respectful and cautious, not fight fire with fire. Owen doesn’t like to hold, but there are times when you need to hold.”

Melvin added: “What the Essuman fight was, was a great fight and a great learning opportunity. It’s all positive, there are no negatives on our side.”