Gary Cooper (boxer)

Gary Cooper (born 31 May 1957) is a British former boxer who was British light middleweight champion in 1988.

Gary Cooper
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight, light middleweight
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
NationalityBritish
Born (1957-05-31) 31 May 1957
Hythe, Hampshire, England
Boxing record
Total fights27
Wins16
Wins by KO5
Losses9
Draws2

Career

Born in Hythe, Cooper was trained by Jack Bishop in Southampton,[1] and turned professional in 1978. After winning five and drawing two of his first seven fights, he suffered his first defeat in October 1979 at the hands of future British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Lloyd Hibbert. Between 1980 and 1982 he had six fights, losing to Jimmy Cable and twice to Cliff Gilpin.

Copper was out of the ring for over two years, returning in December 1984 at light middleweight with a win over Martin Patrick. He faced Patrick again a month later, stopping him in the tenth round to take the BBBofC Southern Area light middleweight title. This set him up for a shot at Jimmy Cable's British title in February 1985, Cable winning on points.

Over the next three years he successfully defended his Southern Area title three times against Mick Courtney, each time winning on points, suffered defeats to Nicky Wilshire and French champion Yvon Segor, and beat Gaston Cool. He got a second shot at the British title in February 1988, beating Michael Harris at Wembley on points.[2] In his first defence of the title in September he was beaten on points by Gary Stretch.[2]

Cooper's final fight came in March 1989, a win over future British champion and world title challenger Ensley Bingham.[2]

References

  1. Leitch, Adam (2014) "Boxing coach gets honour aged 91", Southern Daily Echo, 14 June 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2015
  2. Lillis, Steve (2013) Steve Lillis' top ten under-rated British champions, BoxNation, 13 November 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015
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