Cooper camp fly the Dudley flag
Dudley's long-standing association in the boxing ring has been revitalised this year - now the hometown 'Cooper Camp' aim to continue that trend long into the future.
Led by former professional Shaun Cooper, this six-strong stable of boxers are exactly what they say on the tin - born and raised in the local area.
Cradley's Chris Male, Brierley Hill's Martin Gordon, Coseley's Jamie Ball, along with Dudley's Jason Welborn, Dean Anderson and Sam Padgett all fight with pride out of their hometowns.
Their head trainer did the same throughout his own career and by rights had a good record, 16 wins from 16 fights with eight inside the distance from 1988 to 1991.
He only ever fought outside the Black Country once - and that was in Telford.
Last month, 'the Cooper Camp' made their presence felt at the first boxing show to be staged in Dudley for two years.
Male, Gordon and Padgett - in quite literally a knockout debut - all saw their hands raised.
A developing camp, Cooper didn't have any of them as pro's on his books this time last year, but big strides are being taken in short spaces of time.
And he wants his hometown to know it.
He said: "I am from Dudley, my fighters are from Dudley and we all take great pride in where we come from.
"If my boxers do what I am tell them to do, they cannot go wrong. These guys all have the ability to be successful, it's my job to harness that potential into results.
"This is where the hard work starts for us, some of the lads are well on their way up but we all have to raise our game.
"We are an up-and-coming camp that is looking to make those steps up."
Welborn has only just joined up and is hoping that he can turn his career around under the 41-year's old tutelage.
He is showing signs of a midas touch - Gordon was going nowhere until his first fight under Cooper, ending a eight-bout winless streak with his first victory.
And 23-year-old welterweight Welborn has only had four fights since December 2005, although two knockouts and three wins suggests he can go.
With two more former pro's in Razza Campbell and Lindon Scarlett - both from Dudley - now added as cornermen to the camp, he should get all the guidance he needs.
Cooper added: "Jason is a very bright young boxer who has lost his way a little bit.
"We will work with him throughout the summer and he will come back a different fighter."
