Cookie not world class

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 08 Oct 2004, 20:29

It's clear that he is nothing more than a good european level fighter. Chi or Harrison would annialate him IMO. He's too open to right hands and he's not going to hurt Chi. Harrison is limited but his stregth and size would be too much for the Cookman. He seems to have no power at all. He wont be "the next Ricky hatton" with fights like that. Showed a good jab at times though, but thats not enough. he was against a journeyman there and should have done the job better.

Meanwhile I thought Bami performed very well from the 4th onwards. He is VERY skilled and I believe he's take Lyons out, I was surprised that he was so good. Great upper body movement, but he's very frial in the chin department. He's always vulnerable and holding his hands low doesn't help with a chin like that.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 09 Oct 2004, 03:56

I'd like to see Harding and his boys do well, but Cookie, in a fight with a 50/50 record, non punching French man, looked like he's gonna struggle when he moves up.
And Bami, well he's heading for another bad knock out, no doubt.

beduff · Post by **beduff** » 09 Oct 2004, 04:23

not saying he is not world class but that was a terrible performance.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 09 Oct 2004, 07:36

Cookie holds a European title. That's just as good as Scott Harrison's WBO in my opinion (Harrison bypassed the EBU title like all Sports Network fighters) - and much much better than any WBU, IBO, WBF crap.
If you win a European title, you're world class.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 09 Oct 2004, 08:00

It was indeed a disappointing performance by Cookie, I was hoping for a mid to late round stoppage.

Is Cookie tight at the weight? this was mentioned by the SKY team. This may explain last nights performance, although the tough but limited French fighter did come to fight to be fair.

I hope if he is tight at the weight it's a problem that can be sorted out via training and diet alterations as Cookie doesn't appear to be a strong Featherweight never mind Super-Featherweight.

I agree with Bennies point about the Euro Title being far superior to most 'world' baubles but still believe Scott Harrison would stop Cookie, on lat nights performance anyway.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 09 Oct 2004, 08:01

I wouldn't agree with that one Bennie, let's be fair here, Scott Harrison has far better names on his record and better performances. As they say, fighters make belts, and I think the WBO is a lot better than an EBU title in most weight divisions these days. I didn't see the fight last night, but if cookie is struggling with that quality of opposition, then he's not in the same league as Scott.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 09 Oct 2004, 09:49

Good action over the 12 rounds. Great to see a boxer so focussed on using a simple left jab - the hallmark of virtually all great boxers. I liked the counter-right from the ropes in round 6, looks like someone has been watching Ike Quartey videos. I think Sky expected Cook to be the first to stop Begue and that's why there was something of a despondent air in the broadcast. They got some nice highlight reel footage in round 7 with those uppercuts, though.

Not sure how far he'll go, he had a bad habit of staying inside too long after he'd finished working, which he should fix in sparring. I don't think he's ready for world class based on last nights performance, but it was a good fight he can take a lot away from. For a start, he should modify his diet as KOJOE said, to see whether he gets stronger or not. Practice fighting on the back foot more (looks like he's going to need it), and practice more varying combinations; if he'd mixed his punches up more he would have stopped Begue. As it went Begue cottoned on from about the 3rd time they landed and blocked them everytime after that, classic case of the journeyman getting one over on the prospect. I'm reserving judgement on how good he is until I see his next two or three fights.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Oct 2004, 16:30

Its a tough question, normally the European title should equal a guarenteed top ten ranking position. However, as the Featherweight devision is so hot at the moment, I think having Cook in the top 10 is a bit hopeful. I have him 4th in the UK and haven't had they many people here arguing about that. This just shows how competitive the Featherweight devision.

When myself and guest were discussing the term world class I mentioned a friends definition who said world class is someone who most people feel has a realistic chance of one of the four main champions. I personally think this is a good definition because it is current for the time. For example, I have said in the best that I feel no heavyweight is world class, but this of course is contradictory and doesn't make sense. However, with this definition of course this would change.

Based on Last nights performance, Cook didn't look world class. Whilst I was very impressed with his title winning effort, this got me thinking how much the illegal shots hurt Thomas, because he didn't really look European class last night.

I would class Cook as a fringe world class fighter, he has a highly prestigious belt and as Bennie said, that must be respected. However, the amount of fighters who have done as much or more than Cook makes it hard to place him in the elite currently (look at Boxing Monthly's recent world rankings: Derrick Gainer at 8, current WBA champion Chris John at 9 - no sign of Brodie, McCullough, Leon, Polo, Abelyan etc).

So I think the answer is no - I place Cook currently on a same lines as a Bobby Boy Valderez on the fringes of a top ten(ish) place but not there and not world class at this moment anyway.

On last nights show, I would tip the ever improving Dazzo Williams to take Cook.