Boxer Ollie Cooper happy to be back in action as he closes on title shot

Not one to sit idly by, the unbeaten southpaw is eager to get in more valuable rounds on Saturday, featuring prominently on the undercard of the sold-out Nathan Heaney homecoming show at the Kings Hall in Stoke-on-Trent.

The 24-year-old, who has maintained an unblemished record in 10  fights since turning professional in 2021, will compete in a six-round bout at the packed venue.

"I'm buzzing to be back out boxing again and keeping active; it's the most important thing for me now," Cooper stated. "I said it after my last fight – I want to be busy, and this is a really good show for me to be a part of."

Cooper delivered a sensational performance when he captured the Midlands Area Super Middleweight title last November, stopping the previously unbeaten Liam O'Hare inside six rounds in Cannock.

That breakthrough win saw the rangy southpaw climb the British rankings and earned widespread praise from ringside observers.

He followed it up with a non-title fight against the tricky Serhii Ksendzov in March, winning every one of the six scheduled rounds.

"I was frustrated in some ways because I wanted to get him out of there, and I almost did, but it ended up going the full six rounds, and I got to show things we have been working on," said Cooper. "We have been focusing a lot on my power, and this fight will be another chance to [demonstrate that]."

Training at the Wolverhampton Boxing Club under coach Richie Carter and his team has never been better.

Cooper thrives alongside stablemates like Gully Powar and Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards, who are also enjoying success.

Beyond his rigorous boxing regimen, Cooper has embraced the challenging physical demands of Hyrox fitness competitions – a new endeavour he believes is significantly benefiting his in-ring performance.

“The gym is thriving; most of us turned professional at the same time, so we are on similar paths, and I love being part of it," Cooper explained. "I'm a very competitive person when it comes to anything physical, and the Hyrox events have taken my overall fitness and strength through the roof.

"I won't lie, it's disgustingly hard, but I really enjoy it, and I am seeing the benefits for my boxing.”

Given Heaney's immense popularity, the show was almost immediately a complete sell-out.

This welcome factor has allowed Cooper to bypass the usual challenges of ticket sales, enabling him to focus entirely on his preparation.

He added: "After this, I want any form of title fight – English, British or to defend my Midlands – whatever's the best option for me to take. There will be a lot of eyes on this show, and it's a chance to showcase what I do.

"Normally I'd be spending time selling tickets, dropping them off in the evening, and this time my focus is solely on the fight and my training; it's given me the extra push."

The main event on July 26 sees Heaney box back in Stoke for the first time in five years against the experienced Grant Dennis. The undercard also features an exciting English Welterweight Title fight between BCB's Ben Vaughan and Bobby Dalton, along with the unbeaten duo of Lewis Lawton and Levi Vaughan.

Tickets for this highly-anticipated event are now sold out, but fans can join the reserved list by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com