Ollie Cooper wants to get boxing fans talking in Cannock
Sam Eggington is an all-action fans’ favourite and Craig Parker is a world-ranked knockout specialist – but Ollie Cooper says the crowd will leave Cannock’s next big fight talking about him, writes Matt Bozeat.
Cooper defends his Midlands Area super-middleweight championship against Tom Ramsden in front of his home crowd on a huge night of boxing at Chase Leisure Centre on Saturday, September 13.
There will be 12 fights on promoter Scott Murray’s show, including Eggington, Parker and three Midlands-title matches.
Cooper makes his first defence of the 12 stones belt he took off Liam O’Hare at Bar Sport last November with a punch-perfect sixth-round stoppage.
That put him in the top 10 of the UK rankings with top website BoxRec and the 24 year old southpaw has since consolidated with a pair of routine points wins to improve his record to 11-0.
Cooper says there’s been “a lot of interest” in next month’s show and believes he will outshine the other stars in action.
“Every time you fight you want people to talk about you,” he said. “That’s one of the things that drives me. I want people leaving the venue saying: ‘That kid Cooper is good'.
“Boxing is a business and if you want to get on, you have to get noticed and you have to entertain.”
Cooper says his fight with Ramsden will be exciting – while it lasts.
“I think it will be a repeat of when I won the title,” said Cooper, who trains with ex-pro Richie Carter in Wolverhampton. “He is game and will come forward. I will weather the storm and put him away. I did that when I won the title and I think I will do it again.
“If he comes forward and has a go that will suit me. It will be exciting. It will be a good dust up. It will take me a few rounds to break him down and I will stop him in five or six rounds.”
Cooper hopes beating Ramsden in style could lead to a British-title shot.
Gym mate Gully Powar has been paired with Rhys Edwards for the vacant British featherweight title and rumour has it, Callum Simpson could vacate the super-middleweight strap, handing a possible opening to Cooper.
Cooper is convinced he can go on to win more belts after sparring Lewis Edmondson, the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion, and Zach Parker.
“I get confidence from holding my own when sparring these people,” he said. “I’m not overlooking Ramsden.
“I know this is his world-title fight and he will be hungry, but the level I’ve been sparring at, I will get the job done.”
