Cooper Stopped in WBC title Fight
Walsall born Shaun Cooper took on the unbeaten Sam Noakes for the vacant WBC International lightweight weight title. The fight was live on BT sports (4.12.21) at the Copper box arena London on the undercard of the Arthur v Yarde contest promoted by Queensberry promotions. The title was scheduled for 10 rounds with Noakes (24) who was unbeaten in 7 weighing in 9 stone 8 and Cooper (25) coming in 9 stone 7.
Cooper boxed well on the back foot and was making it difficult for Noakes to get any clean shots off, but Noakes was well a head after six rounds due to his work rate. Cooper started to come into the fight in the seventh and eight and you could make can argument he had edged them. Coopers corner asked him to pick it up for the last 2 rounds as they knew he was behind, Cooper did just that and came out for the ninth getting some good shots off, Noakes matched him and had Cooper down early in the round with a flurry of shots. Cooper got to his feet and seemed OK. Cooper was allowed to continue but Noakes just poured the pressure on getting some good shots off with Ref Ian John Lewis stepping in and stopping the contest 1 minute 35 second into the ninth to the complaints of Cooper who seemed OK to continue.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Great effort by Cooper and his team tonight he boxed well on the back foot and made it hard for Noakes to catch him clean. But while he avoided Noakes shot he was not doing enough to win the rounds and when Cooper did pressure it played into Noakes hands. This fight was always set up for Noakes to win and Cooper in the away corner put in a great effort against a fighter with the backing of Queensberry Promotions behind him. I’m sure Cooper will come again and learn from this defeat and I and see him contesting for more titles in his future.