Walsall's Shaun Cooper (23) showed heart and determination against one of Queensberry promotions hot prospects Mark Chamberlain (20) in an 8 round contest live on BT sports (10,10,20). Unbeaten Chamberlain (6-0) was going into his first 8 rounder having stopped 4 of his six opponents in the first round. The fight was contested in the Lightweight division with Cooper weighing in 9 stone 10 and Chamberlain weighing in 9 stone 12.
Both fighters had their moments in the first round as they felt each other out, Cooper got some nice left hooks off but Chamberlain just edged the round. The second was another close round with Cooper battling hard and getting some nice left hooks off, Chamberlain boxed well and just edged the round again. Chamberlain turned up the pace in the third and got some cracking combinations off, Cooper stood strong and fought back but it was Chamberlain’s round. Chamberlain started to go threw the gears in the fourth and banged in some heavy shots. Chamberlain put Cooper down with some hurtful body shots, Cooper took a knee and managed to get to his feet and see the round out.
Cooper seemed to have recovered well from the knockdown and brought the fight to Chamberlain in the fifth getting some big left hooks off. Chamberlain continued to box well and won the round. Chamberlain controlled the sixth round from distance with some nice neat boxing, Cooper pressed and pressured for the whole of the round and was showing loads of heart. Round seven saw Chamberlain turn up the pace and banging in some hurtful body shots in to put Cooper down for the second time, Cooper managed to beat the count and then bit down on his gumshield to see the round out. In the final round, Chamberlain boxed well from distance picking his shots well to cruise his way to the final bell.
The referee Ian John Lewis scored it 80-69 to Chamberlain I had it, 80-70 Chamberlain.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Shaun Cooper may have lost tonight but he showed loads of heart and determination against a fighter who is destined to go far in boxing. Cooper and his team rolled the dice in this fight as it was always going to be a hard task for them but there were great pluses in this defeat. Cooper got some good shots off and had some close round at the start of the fight. He showed a warriors mentality by getting off the floor twice after some hurtful body shots and seeing the final bell against one of Queensberry promotions hot prospects. Cooper is only 23 and I’m sure he will learn from this fight and will come again, I look forward to seeing ‘The Scorpion’ back out soon.
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