Middlesbrough’s John Green confident Hartlepool boxer Peter Cope can be beaten in Summer Rumble

Cope defends his Northern Area lightweight title against Middlesbrough fighter John Green at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

The Hartlepool boxer beat Green for the vacant belt in South Shields last October, when referee Andrew Wright scored it 96-95.

Cope looked a more clear winner and wants to produce a decisive display at Sunderland’s ground.

But Paul Hamilton, the man who coaches Green in Darlington, insists the 26-year-old can turn things around.

“We’re confident,” said Hamilton. “Very confident.

“John’s looking really well. He’s fit and strong and everything has gone to plan.

“He’s learned from his mistakes, he’s grown mentally.

“The last fight was close but not as close as the scoreline, Peter won it by more than one point.

“John has improved a helluva lot since then, he’s had good training and sparring.

“He’s also learned more about himself and learned that we are in his corner for a reason, not just to hand him water.

“He knows he has to listen to us and he’s done that and come on leaps and bounds.

“Sometimes a boxer needs to lose to become a winner and I think that’s the case with John.

“He’s not a lad who’s lost and feels sorry for himself. He’s been beaten and bounced back in the gym and thought ‘I can beat this kid’.

“It’s going to be a good fight, a lot more interesting than the first one.”

Cope v Green is one of 15 fights planned for this Sunday. Contact Peter on 07815 991247 for tickets and transport.