YORK HALL WILL see a “battle of the unbeaten” on 11th March, when local E2 resident Jamie Arlain takes on Southampton’s Jimmy Cooper in the Kevin Campion promoted show “Knuckle 2 Knuckle”. For one of the two lightweights, it will be the end of an unbeaten record, as Arlain (5-0) takes on Cooper (4-0-1) over six-rounds at 135lbs.
Trained by former British super-bantamweight champion Matt Marsh, southpaw Arlain has fought all five of his professional bouts at his local, York Hall. He said, “I’m looking forward to fighting someone like Cooper. It’s more about the reputation that he’s got and I’d rather get in the ring with him than a no one. It’s what I’m in boxing for, I want to get recognised more.”
Cooper, who has been professional for just shy of two years, clocks in at 24 years of age – and 6ft tall. He was formerly trained by Peter Sims in Essex and now by Steve Tyrell in Portsmouth and had a string of high profile successes in the amateur world. He’s trying to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, former British light-middleweight champion Gary Cooper. Cooper said, “I can’t wait for this fight, it’s a massive fight to be taking so early in my career, I know that, but this is what I need. I’ve boxed all over the country for England as an amateur and we’re both unbeaten, somebody’s 0 has to go, which adds more fuel to the fire. I’m sure it will be a cracking fight!”
Knuckle 2 Knuckle highlights
•Jordan Joseph (6-0-1) and Chris Hobbs (5-1-1) A Southern Area light-heavyweight title clash: an evenly-matched bout, with each fighter showing just a single loss in seven fights
•“Dazzling” Darrel Church (3-1-1) In what he hopes will be the first fight of many in 2017
•Fight Cup semi-finals Ossie Jervier (3-2) and Jose Lopes (7-0) A 10-round cruiserweight contest including the hard hitting Lopes Ryan Crawford (2-2-1) against Portsmouth’s Danny Couzens (8-10-2) Crawford enters the ring as the current champion
•Also fighting to defend their unbeaten runs: Derby’s Arfan Iqbal (11-0) Aylesbury’s Adi Burden (2-0) Essex’s Adrian Martin (3-0) Mitcham’s Jumanne Canero Peterborough’s Sam Barron (4-0)
•For tickets to the show, please contact 07528-663 629
•Follow Jamie Arlain on Twitter @arlain_jamie88
•Jamie Arlain would like to thank his sponsors Pro-Dec and Nu-Maintenance and Agent Tim Rickson
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