Cannock boxing star Ollie Cooper fires 'hurt' warning ahead of English title showdown

Confident Ollie Cooper reckons his time to shine has arrived as he targets the English middleweight title.

The unbeaten 25-year-old takes on James Osborne for the vacant crown at London’s York Hall on Friday night, with the contest broadcast live on DAZN.

It is the Cannock fighter’s first bout outside the Midlands and his first appearance on a televised show. He approaches it brimming with confidence after winning and then defending the Midlands Area title with impressive knockout wins over Liam O’Hare and Tom Ramsden.

Cooper said: “I think I have flown under the radar a little bit, which if anything has worked in my favour.

“I have learned my craft and now it is the time to shine.”

Essex-born Osborne, nine years Cooper’s senior, has won 13 of his 14 professional bouts.

The current Southern Area champion after knocking out Alex Branson-Cole in the first round last September, also won The Heist tournament two months later with a 29-second stoppage.

But Cooper, who has an eight inch height advantage, is unfazed by Osborne’s power and believes his opponent’s aggressive style will play into his hands.

“I think that short tournament format suits him perfectly,” he explained. “That’s where coming into this fight, I think he is going to be good for the first couple of rounds. After that, it is all me.

“That’s all he’s got. He’s so one-dimensional. He is going to try and come and get inside but he is going to walk on to one.

“It is tailor-made for me. His ferocious style. That is built for me. It works into my hands.”

Asked during a press conference on Wednesday for his impressions on Osborne, he replied: “He doesn’t look very confident. I am going in there to stop this man and hurt him.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for him, like any other opponent. But I am just saying it like it is.”