Woolridge, Cooper warm-up with wide wins at the Hangar

Unmarked and ready for titles…Ryan Woolridge last night

TWO of the big names on BCB’s books kept their tools sharp in preparation for much bigger bouts last night.

Southpaws Ryan Woolridge and Ollie Cooper had things pretty much all their own way on the major promotional outfit’s bill at Wolverhampton’s Hangar Venue.

The packed show was entitled “March Madness”. There was no mayhem in the two headliners’ bouts as they secured landslide points wins. The men they faced in six rounders didn’t win a single minute, let alone a round. Both contests were scored 60-54.

These were mark-time encounters before title fights. Both lads got the job done clinically, professionally. Drama was not the order of the day.

Their opponents survived sticky moments and saw their tasks through to the end, therefore avoiding the financial “hit” of a suspension.

Reigning Midlands super-middle champ Cooper, from Cannock, now has a high domestic ranking and is a viable English title contender.

Bloxwich’s Woolridge, who peeled off his 12 straight win, could fight for a belt in his next contest. If Amir Abubaker vacates the Midlands light-middleweight title in search of bigger prizes, Ryan against unbeaten Bermudian Mike Tyler Christopher would be a mouth-watering match-up.

Cooper, Wolverhampton’s Brandon Bethell, Pete Hickenbottom and Woolridge

With huge support in the former warehouse, Woolridge (11st 4lbs) jabbed sharply, worked the body well and showed much improved head movement against Tewkesbury’s Shane Smith.

Smith, managed by former English champ Adam Harper – a vocal addition to any away corner, goes by the ring nickname Sugar.

The sweet stuff was in short supply as he fought defensively, rarely opened-up and threw little back. I won’t criticise Smith for that – it is his role in the business and, therefore, his mission was accomplished.

Shane (11st 5lbs) emerged unhurt and unscathed against a talented operator.

Ryan doubled the jab in the first and drove home hard lefts to the midriff in the opener. That was pretty much the blueprint for the entire contest.

He connected with an eye-catching left to head and body in the second before returning to precise, piston quick jabs. Long left hands threaded through Shane’s guard in the following session.

Woolridge went through the gears and really let body shots go in the fifth before firing straight punches at a retreating Smith in the last round.

He was never troubled by the visitor. Smith was never in a real crisis.

“It was a difficult camp,” Woolridge said afterwards. “Pete (trainer Pete Hickenbottom) lost his mum. He had to deal with that, but never missed any training sessions. I’m so thankful to him for that. We are a team and got through it together.

“Adam Harper was very vocal in his (Smith’s) corner and I heard his feedback and adapted to it. Those things come with experience.”

Tall Cooper, stylish and with a solid dig, is at his best against opponents who blaze back, trainer Richie Carter maintains.

Ukranian Serhii Ksendzov was in no mood to blaze back and I could sense unbeaten Ollie’s frustration building as the bout went on.

Ollie Cooper…landslide win. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

In the final fight of the night, Cooper (12st 4lbs) hurt and wobbled Ksendzov (12st 1lb) only for the Eastern European to fiddle and spoil his way to safety.

He endured an uncomfortable shift and finished the contest with features reddened and bruised. He earned his corn.

From the off, Ollie harpooned Ksendzov with hard lefts to head and body, he uncorked a textbook uppercut in the second and cracked home a whiplash right hook at the end.

So much was coming the visitor’s way that I near expected unbeaten Cooper to emerge from his corner with kitchen sink in hand.

It seemed only a matter of time before Ksendzov buckled, yet he soaked up the spiteful shots.

He tried to hit back with scuffing punches in third – and paid the price by enduring heavy pressure. He was nailed by another uppercut in an untidy fourth, rocked by a right hook in the fifth and, in the last round, appeared ready to fall apart after another hook buckled his legs.

Cooper simply couldn’t find the final, telling shot against a man in frantic retreat down the stretch.

Both Ollie and Woolridge bagged round. More demanding contests are now within touching distance.