Newz Forum: BOXING: Cook makes first defence

Nicky Cook will make the first defence of his European featherweight title against French champion Johnny Begue in Brentwood, Essex on 10 July.


And the Dagenham fighter has been tipped to become the south's crowd-pulling answer to Rick Hatton by his promoter and manager Jess Harding.

"We're looking to make Nicky the Hatton of the south, a fighter who can fill major London venues," said Harding.

"There's a vacancy for a major star in London and Nicky can fill it.

"When you look at Nicky's age and what he has achieved in the time he has achieved it, it is phenomenal.

Nicky has good boxing skills, good punching skills, he trains well, talks well and is a good-looking kid - he has everything going for him - Manager Jess Harding

"We envisage possibly four European defences to get him where he wants to be and I believe he can be the next big British star.

"We have the platform here, the talent. He has good boxing skills, good punching skills, he trains well, talks well and is a good-looking kid. He has everything going for him."

Cook, who is unbeaten in 23 fights, won the European title with an impressive ninth-round stoppage of France's Cyril Thomas in March.

On the undercard, Esham Pickering defends his European super bantamweight crown against undefeated Russian Alexander Federov.



Story from BBC SPORT:
news.bbc.co.uk...

Published: 2004/06/09 17:04:09 GMT

© BBC MMIV

[Edited on 9-6-2004 by Ocelot]