Action man Cope Cooks up Grand victory

The Hartlepool boxer, the second youngest of the four Cope fighting brothers, beat former ABA Championship semi-finalist Ross Cooksey on away soil at the weekend.

Cope outboxed and outfought the Barrow ABC boxer at the Cumbria Grand Hotel.

The Gus Robinson Developments star produced a relentless display against the North-West Area champion.

With it becoming increasingly difficult to get anyone to fight the 18-year-old, the club and Cope have had to go on the road for bouts.

Not that going to the oponent’s backyard caused any problems to the boxer who impressed the crowd as well as his corner of Tony Martin and Lee Cope.

Adam landed on a constant basis with both fists hammering into the head and body of the 23-year-old Cumbrian.

Cooksy may have got through to the last four in the country before but he had no answer to the former national junior champ who was too good in every department in just his second three-minute three-round fight.

“It was an exceptional performance,” said Gus Robinson Developments coach Wayne Short.

“He had been down to fight Cooksey before, including the Hartlepool Elite show last month, but the lad pulled out a couple of times.

“Going over to Cumbria has not fazed Adam who seems to be getting stronger and stronger and better and better. Tony and Lee were very pleased.

“He was boxing a lad five years older and this was only his second three-threes and his second time without a headguard.

“But nothing seems to affect him.

“Cooksey said afterwards he has never been hit so hard.

“This lad never loses at home but Adam has gone and done a good job on him.”

Adam had begun the season in style by stopping Prince Brady in the third round of their match in Burnley.

Fighting for the first time at senior level and minus a headguard, Cope was in irresistable form at Unity WMC.

The 18-year-old has had success out of the ring, having been shortlisted for the young sports personality of the year at the Hartlepool Mail Sports awards,

– ROY KELLY