Cooper, Essuman is an epic for fight fans

Owen Cooper faces his toughest test to date at Resorts World

THERE’S a lion pride cruelty about professional boxing.

Champions see off younger rivals who want to take Number One spot until age robs them of reflexes. Then they are mauled and sent packing by a fresher, hungrier beast.

Like the head of a pride, very, very few retain their crown to the end. They are sent limping into the sunset.

Some respected boxing critics believe that basic and ruthless law of nature will be played out at Resorts World tomorrow (Saturday) when Worcester wonder Owen Cooper faces former fine British champ Ekow Essuman, at 35, 12 years older than his opponent. At stake are the English and European titles Cooper collected last time out by drubbing fellow unbeaten prospect Eithan James. The winner also, surely, gets a British title shot.

It is, in my opinion, the most magnificent pairing on a magnificent televised, title laden bill staged by Frank Warren’s Queensberry promotions.

The lion analogy does both men an injustice, although it’s fair to assume Nottingham’s Essuman is not the force he once was, although still a formidable force. He is certainly not a spent force.

Cooper, unbeaten in 10, looks something special – a talent capable of beating the very best Ekow. Yet a career best performance tomorrow may be tainted by claims he beat a faded former champ.

That would be wrong. There is no evidence, as yet, to suggest  Essuman, a man who oozes ring menace, is in steep decline.

His sole defeat in 20 came last time out on points to highly capable and highly unorthodox Harry Scarff – the country’s most avoided welter. That cost him his Lonsdale and Commonwealth belts and the IBF European crown.

He wasn’t slower or softer. He was outsmarted.

Essuman remains a highly dangerous fighter with a Rolls Royce engine who defended his British title four times.

He has damaging power – just ask our own Danny Ball who suffered a double jaw fracture - and superb stamina. This is, without doubt, Cooper’s toughest fight to date.

A straw poll of fight insiders heavily favoured Cooper – with some caution. All agreed that Owen needs to box: if he gets drawn into trench warfare, he could play into Essuman’s hands.

Cooper with trainer Melvin who says it’s his fighter’s time to shine

That assessment of how the 10 rounder will be played out was today dismissed as “total, utter rubbish” by Cooper’s no-nonsense trainer Malcom Melvin.

Birmingham’s former light-welter and welter contender said: “Owen can either be the matador or the bull, it doesn’t matter.

“If Essuman tries to turn it into a fire-fight, that’s music to our ears. If he starts slowly, he’s in trouble. If he starts fast, he’s in trouble. Basically, whichever direction he takes, he’s in trouble and I say that with respect. We have worked on all the potential things.

“What you see with Ekow Essuman is what you get, it’s what it says on the tin. At this stage in his career, I don’t believe we are going to see any great difference in what he does. If he does try something different, it’s not going to help him.

“People have said Owen’s a great fighter coming forward, but if someone gets him on his back foot you’ll see an even better fighter.”

Melvin, in bullish mood, is “supremely” confident. He expects not only victory, but a performance that will send shockwaves through the division.

“I know people always say it, but we’ve had an absolutely brilliant camp,” he said. “Owen has sparred some really good lads who have helped us so much.”

Those good lads include Kaisee Benjamin, Sam Eggington, Nathan Heaney (who defends his British middleweight title on the same bill) and European middleweight champ Tyler Denny.

“Owen has looked unreal, he’s sparred really well,” Melvin insisted. “He’s firing and ready to go. We are very, very confident.

“Ekow Essuman is a very, very good fighter. He’s still number three in Britain, his pedigree speaks for itself. He has been a great warrior, but he’s had his time – that’s part of the game.

“They call him ‘The Engine’, but there’s no way he’s got a better engine than Owen. I can’t say he’s slipped, but he hasn’t been the most active fighter.

“Owen is a young, hungry lion and I think you will see a great performance, I really, really do. It’s Owen’s time. Essuman has been a great champ, but he’s had his time. We are expecting the best Ekow Essuman because he is a warrior and it is his last hurrah.

“I don’t think the best Ekow Essuman beats the best up-and-coming Owen Cooper.”

Adam Harper…expert is picking Cooper via split decision

It really is a mouth-watering battle and, unlike Melvin, Fight City analyst Adam Harper envisages a desperately close affair. The former English light-middle champ, who trained with Cooper under Melvin, picks Owen to win by split decision.

He said: “Essuman has dropped rounds to less capable fighters than Owen Cooper, you can’t get away from that.

“It will be the fight of the night, won by Cooper as long as he doesn’t become gung-ho. I believe Cooper wins – he’s too young, too fresh. But I can see Essuman having significant successes in the fight and it going to the wire.

“What Cooper can’t do is attempt to blaze back if shaken, he can’t get drawn into a fire-fight. Essuman has the capabilities to keep someone hurt and finish them off. Cooper has to box. If he gets into a fire-fight, he gets burnt. If he boxes and moves in the early rounds, I can see Essuman unravelling.”