READY, WILLING AND ABLE.
Peter Cope Jnr is in training and waiting to see when his next professional date will be.
The 20-year-old talent has reeled off three wins in the pro game – two against gritty Scotsman Ryan McNicol and one against Pavels Senkovs at the Summer Rumble at the Stadium of Light.
It’s all running smoothly for Cope, who is managed by Gus Robinson and trained by dad, Peter Snr.
“He’s looking good,” said dad. “It’s early days for him in his career and it’s all about learning and building experience.
“Obviously he is champing at the bit to fight again.
“Boxers want fights and he’s got a great group of supporters who want to see him in action again.
“We’re just waiting on an opportunity for him.”
Cope’s arm of fans made his last appearance a noisy affair at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Facing McNicol at the Houghton venue in September’s Summer Rumble 2, Cope was awarded a 40-36 win on the scorecard of Northumberland referee Andrew Wright.
When he used his long right jab, the former Junior ABA champ looked the proverbial million dollars, though when McNicol did close the gap, he was more effective and did not make it easy for the Hartlepool prospect.
PETER CAN COPE WITH ACTION REPLAY.
Peter Cope will face a re-match with Ryan McNicol when he lines up for the third time as a professional this Sunday when Summer Rumble 2 is staged at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
The 20-year-old super-bantamweight beat McNicol on points on his pro debut back in March in Doncaster.
McNicol, who was also an opponent for former Gus Robinson pro Michael O’Gara, will be no pushover as young Peter discovered at the Dome, where he was awarded a 40-37 success.
“McNicol’s a tough nut,” said coach Peter Cope Snr.
“He’s not the tallest but he’s a very powerfully built lad and if he landed a big right over the top then it could spell trouble.
“But Peter’s a good intelligent boxer and if he uses his skills then I’ll be confident of winning.
“Peter boxed well against him the first time but McNicol did well in the last round so he may be fancying a little bit of a go on Sunday.
“I see Peter improving all the time and that’s what I’m looking for on Sunday.”
READY TO RUMBLE … AGAIN.
No sooner had the excitement settled on Peter Cope Jnr’s second professional appearance, he is ready to go for a hat-trick.
The Gus Robinson-managed super-bantamweight wowed the big Stadium of Light crowd at the Summer Rumble in July, when he outpointed Nottinghamshire-based Latvian Pavels Senkovs.
It was a dynamic display by a young boxer carrying the exciting form he showed in the amateur ranks into the pro game.
Cope is now set to appear on Summer Rumble 2 at Houghton-le-Spring, the second instalment promoted by Wearside fight figure Phil Jeffries in association with top trainer Neil Fannan.
“It’s a great event for Peter to start his new season,” said trainer and dad, Peter.
“I think everyone enjoyed the original Summer Rumble.
“Peter boxed very well in front of a big crowd and me and Alan (Temple) were very pleased with him.
“His fans enjoyed it and we’re hoping they will come back and support him at Rainton Meadows Arena.”
Young Peter, 20, is part of an 11-bout spectacular, which also includes his former Gus Robinson Developments ABC team-mate Paul Archer.
His fellow 20-year-old is also undefeated with his record standing at three wins from three.
THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
Peter Cope Jnr wowed a big crowd at the Stadium of Light to record his second win as a professional.
The Gus Robinson-managed super-bantamweight turned on the style in a four-round points win over Mansfield’s Pavels Senkovs.
The 21-year-old Latvian, now based in the Robin Hood gym in Nottinghamshire, gave a gutsy display but Cope produced some brilliant boxing to get the 40-37 verdict from referee Andrew Wright.
Both boxers set off at a tremendous pace at the Summer Rumble, with Cope roared on by a huge travelling support which never stopped singing and cheering.
And the ‘Copey crew’ had plenty to cheer as the southpaw showed tremendous accuracy with both fists.
Several times the 20-year-old pinned Senkovs on the ropes in the opening three rounds as he let his punches flow.
Senkovs, to his credit, hung in there and then surprised the former Junior ABA champion in the last with a sustained assault of his own.
Cope shook off his opponent’s bright start and found his range again to end a very worthy winner.
His corner of dad and coach Peter Cope Snr and Alan Temple were delighted.
“A couple of people thought Peter had tired in the last,” said ‘old’ Peter.
“That wasn’t the case, I just think Senkovs came out and gave it a real go in the last and it took Peter a minute or so to get back into it.
“Senkovs is a tough, tough lad, who has only ever been stopped on cuts. He gave it a go and it was a good learning fight for Peter – it was only his second bout.
“I was very impressed with Peter though. He boxed very well.”
READY TO RUMBLE!
Young boxing prospect Peter Cope is set to make his second professional appearance on Sunday at the Stadium of Light.
The Gus Robinson-managed super-bantamweight will meet Pavels Senkovs over four rounds.
Cope will box on the undercard of the Northern Area cruiserweight title showdown between David Dolan and Jon Lewis Dickinson.
It is part of an eight-fight bill which has been tagged as the Summer Rumble.
Cope is looking forward to the big show, according top coach (and dad) Peter senior.
“Peter made a good start as a pro back in March,” said the head coach at the Gus Robinson gym.
“He had to have a break after his car crash but he’s been back training and he’s looking good.
“It’s just good to see him back in the ring again and we’re looking forward to it.”
The 21-year-old fighter will be backed by a big travelling army at the Sunderland football arena.
He will start as a hot favourite against the Latvian boxer, who is based in Nottinghamshire.
And his manager explained how proud he was to see Cope Junior progress from the amateur club which bears his name to the professional ranks.
“We are growing from grass roots so it has been nice to see one of our boxers make the transition into the professionals,” said Gus.
“We had a bit of a purple patch in the early 90s and it’s nice to see things moving nicely again.
“That gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
COOK IS ON WRIGHT MENU
Nigel Wright is to face former European and World champion Jason Cook in a final British Championship eliminator in the autumn.
The talented Gus Robinson-managed boxer may not have got the straight title shot he craved – he was desperate for a tilt at Anthony Crolla’s lightweight belt after accusing the new British king of being scared to fight him.
However, Wright has got the next best thing and the eliminator for the light-welterweight crown held by Ashley Theophane appears to be an absolute belter.
The British GBoxing Board of Control have ordered a battle between the champions of England and Wales.
Wright regained his national title last year by outpointing Dean Harrison in Houghton-le-Spring before defending it in style with a convincing win on all three judges scorecards when he defeated Nicki Smedley in Sheffield in May.
Cook became Welsh champion last November when he stopped Barrie Jones in the dying seconds of the sixth round of their contest in Newport.
The 36-year-old retired in 2005 but came back four years later and reached the semi-final of the Prizefighter.
Cook, a former postman from Maesteg, is one tough customer, who can hit hard – half of his 28 wins have come inside the distance.
He has lost only three times in a 32-fight career.
“Cook will come to try to knock Nigel out,” said Gus Robinson’s head coach Peter Cope.
“You know what you will get from Jason.
“But we won’t want Nigel to be stood trading with him.
“Nigel’s boxing well and we’re quietly confident that we can win this then he will get to fight Theophane.
“We’re a bit disappointed not to get a straight shot but Jason deserves his chance as well.”
HARTLEPOOL v LATVIA AT SUNDERLAND
That is the prospect facing Peter Cope Jnr when he steps through the ropes for his second professional fight.
The gifted Gus Robinson bantamweight has been matched with Latvian-born Pavels Senkovs at the Summer Rumble at the Stadium of Light on Sunday July 3.
Senkovs, who has been based in the Nottinghamshire town of Mansfield throughout his pro career, has a desperately poor record – winning just twice in 39 contests. There are two draws on his record.
However, the Gus Robinson team see the 21-year-old adopted Midlander as a key fight for their young star.
“Peter made a very good start to his pro career when he beat Ryan McNicol,” said coach (and dad) Peter Cope Snr.
“Since then though he’s been involved in a nasty road accident and this is his first fight back.
“He needs fights and he needs experience – for all we are confident Peter can do very well in the game he is still relatively new to boxing.
“Building his experience is vital and this will be a good bout for him.”
The 20-year-old is a well supported boxer and well over 100 members of the ‘Copey crew’ were in Doncaster in March for his win over McNicol.
“We’re hoping all those people who supported him on his debut will go to Sunderland and may be attract a few more,” said Peter Snr. “He has a lot of family and friends but I think he’ll be someone who is supported by boxing fans.
“He’s a good boxer who is exciting to watch.”
Anyone wanting tickets is asked to ring Peter on 07815991247
BOYLE BEATEN BUT NOT DISGRACED
Phil Boyle suffered a points defeat in Scotland when he lost to Steven Sharoudi in Glasgow on Friday night.
Scottish referee Kenny Pringle marked it 59-56 in favour of the 24-year-old from Motherwell, who made it five wins from five outings.
There were no complaints from the Gus Robinson camp, with coach Peter Cope explaining that his light-welterweight had given everything.
“Phil’s timing was a bit off and he struggled to get into it in the first three rounds,” said Cope.
“Once he was into the fight, he looked canny.
“Phil landed a couple of decent rights and I’d have given him the fourth and the ref obviously has too and a share of anther.
“He gave it a proper go as he always does, but he was in with a good unbeaten kid.
“One of the promoters came over after the fight and said that Phil had give Sharoudi a fright or two, which he probably did.
“Phil gives it everything in every fight and I thought he did all right at the Kelvin Hall. It was just the other kid was a bit too quick for him.”
It was Boyles eighth defeat in nine appearances but Cope added: “That record does him no justice.”
ON THE BOYLE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
Phil Boyle heads back to Scotland this weekend looking to keep up the good form of both parts of the Gus Robinson team.
Boyle, without a bout since February, takes on Scotland’s Steven Sharoudi at Glasgow’s world-famous Kelvin Hall on Friday night.
And while Boyle’s fight log reveals record of only one win in eight contests, the figures do not do Phil’s short career justice.
Aside from a fairly uninspiring debut, Boyle has proved a “handful” to all his opponents in the home corner.
“Phil’s got a chance with pretty much everyone,” said Gus Robinson’s head coach Peter cope.
Sharoudi is unbeaten after four fights but all of his wins have come against out-and-out journeymen, Sid Razak (twicwe), Daniel Thorpe and Matt Seawright, a trio who have lost 261 of their 300 contests.
The 24-year-old from Motherwell has yet to lose a round though judging by his opponents, he may not have been hit too hard yet in his fledgling career.
“If Phil hits an opponent with a big right there is a chance they could stay hit,” Cope explained.
“We’re going up to the other kid’s backyard but that’s par for the course.
“But Phil’s got a smashing attitude and he will give it a go.”
The light-welterweight goes into action just six days after stablemate Nigel Wright retained his English 10-st crown.
It was a terrific performance and followed on from nicely from the Gus Robinson Developments ABC show at the Corporation Club last month when five of the six Gus boxers tasted victory.
“There’s a buzz around the place,” added Cope.
“Nigel’s just won and everyone’s on about him and there’s a lot of talk about our Peter’s fight at the Stadium of Light next month.
“The amateurs had a cracking night too, so things are going very well.”
WHO ELSE DESERVES A BRITISH TITLE SHOT AHEAD OF NIGEL?
You may never see Peter Cope on Question Time, but the head coach of Gus Robinson’s boxing team has hit the nail on the head with those ten words.
Nigel Wright defended his English light-welterweight title with a super points win over Nicki Smedley in Sheffield.
While Smedley in no way let himself down, he was forced to concede second best to Wright who used his skill, experience and nous to win a unanimous points verdict.
The 31-year-old won 97-93, 97-94 and 99-92 on the scorecards of Doncaster’s Howard Foster, Fleetwood’s Steve Gray and London’s Mark Green.
Wright, Robinson and Cope would welcome a shot at the Lonsdale Belts of lightweight champ Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla or light-welter Ashley Theophane, who is known as ‘Treasure’.
“Nigel Wright now deserves a British title shot,” said Cope.
“Boxing’s bosses said four fights ago ‘go and beat someone decent’. That was after Nigel had lost to Olusegun for the British and Commonwealth titles.
“Nigel’s followed those orders to the letter.
“He’s beaten an ex-world champion in Alex Arthur and then he beat a good fighter in Dean Harrison to regain his English belt.
“He the took on an unbeaten kid (Jamie Speight) in his debut at lightweight – an opponent who’d had eight and won eight.
“He’s now gone and beaten Nicki Smedley, who’d had 14 and won 14 to retain his belt.
“Why shouldn’t he get a British championship fight?
“Who else deserves a British title shot ahead of Nigel?”
