Cook's opponent for the vacant IBO lightweight title on Saturday week is Ariel Olveira of Argentina.
The chief support sees Hartlepool's Kevin Bennett challenging Michael Muya of Kenya for the Commonwealth lightweight title, but the latter fight is not definitely confirmed as yet.
Jason Cook's opponent confirmed
MAESTEG'S former European lightweight champion Jason Cook takes on Argentina's Ariel Olveira for the vacant IBO lightweight title at the Bridgend Recreation Centre on Saturday, November 8. It was at the same venue in January where the Welshman narrowly outpointed Stefano Zoff in - what was for him at least - a non-title 12-rounder. Cook had failed to make the weight for a defence of his European title against Zoff, so was stripped of his crown. The fight went ahead with the title on the line for Zoff only, if he won. And the clever, underrated Italian pushed Jason all the way before conceding a split decision which, on paper at least, smacks of a hometown decision. It wasn't. Zoff scored a flash knockdown in the second, and put in a big finish to narrow things up on the scorecards, but inbetween had done a lot of spoiling. Cook had scored well in the middle rounds, and deserved his close win.
So Cook won and still lost, as many of the headlines read at the time. To compound matters, Zoff went on to capture the vacant title against Liverpool's David Burke just a few months later (unanimous points) and has a lucrative defence lined up in France. Cook had to make do with an undercard win over Guyana's Vincent Howard at Huddersfield in his only outing since. He must be still kicking himself at those two pounds he failed to shift to make the lightweight limit. He was unprofessional. And paid a high price.
It now remains to be seen how he fares at the scales for this one. It was reported he was inside the stipulated weight of 9st 12lbs for the Howard fight in September, but at 28, it can't be getting any easier to make lightweight and he has already boxed at 10 stone where he won the Welsh light-welterweight title with a first round stoppage of Woody Greenaway back in 1999. He certainly looks big enough to compete there successfully again, though to accept this fight for, frankly, an unregarded 'world' lightweight title, must suggest that Jason can make 9st 9lbs again. All the same, it is a worry. He was given two hours to remove the excess pounds after the weigh-in for Zoff, but only managed to lose half a pound.
It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the hard-punching, talented Cook, whose left hook earned him the nickname of "The Power" long before he bombed out Italy's Sandro Casamonica in a stunning European title triumph in August last year. A brilliant amateur, Cook captured an ABA title and a Commonwealth silver before turning pro in 1996 and cruising to five straight victories. Fight number six came against Birmingham journeyman Trevor Smith, a southpaw from the Nobby Nobbs camp. It looked a 'gimmee' for Jason, but Smith caught him cold and it was all over inside the first round. Jason was typically gracious in defeat, "He clipped me with an overhand left and though I got up at six or seven, I was in no state to continue; the referee did the right thing." It remains his only career defeat.
He was soon back to regular ways, reeling off 12 straight victories, including that first round stoppage of Greenaway for the vacant Welsh light-welterweight title in late 1999, when his career was interrupted by an untimely prison sentence for credit card fraud ("not an experience I would like to repeat," he admits). Jason served six months and quickly made up for lost time - and turned his life around - in August last year courtesy of one superb left hook. At 10 days notice, he accepted a showdown with Sandro Casamonica for the vacant European lightweight title in Italy. It was a daunting task. The last British fighter to win a European title in Italy had been Pat Barrett way back in 1990, but Cook climbed off the floor in a sensational third round to flatten the local man with that potent hook. "It's like a dream," said the new champion. "My life has changed, it still hasn't sunk in. That was the best punch I’ve thrown in my life, and it came when I most needed it. This is all like a dream to me."
The dream continued when he made the first defence of his crown in his own hometown and dismantled French challenger Nasser Lakrib with body shots in five impressive rounds. But the second defence against Zoff turned into a nightmare before the first bell, though he managed to salvage a fine win over former the WBA lightweight champion.
His opponent next week, Olveira, is the reigning Argentine lightweight champion and ranked number 22 by the Independent World Boxing Rankings (Cook is number 10), so is clearly no mug. He retained his national title in September with a unanimous 10-round decision over the experienced Ricardo Silva in Buenos Aires to take his record to 19-3-2 (10). Like most Argies, the 27-year-old will no doubt possess sound boxing fundamentals, a good defence and decent power, but two of his three defeats came by stoppage, which makes one wonder about his ability to stand up to the powerful left hooks of Cook. Furthermore, Olveira has never fought outside his native country as a pro. The Bridgend venue next week is already sold out, and will be plenty intimidating to a first time visitor like Olveira.
Cook will thrive on the atmosphere of course. The home man took his record to 21-1 (9) with his three round battering of Guyana's normally durable Vincent Howard last time out in September and will want to have something to show for the frustrations this year has brought him. As well as blowing his European title, the Maesteg fighter's progress has been hampered by an ankle injury, so next week is all about making up for a wasted Summer.
He could go out there and overpower his untested opponent early, but the more likely scenario is he emerges on a hard-earned decision.
So Cook won and still lost, as many of the headlines read at the time. To compound matters, Zoff went on to capture the vacant title against Liverpool's David Burke just a few months later (unanimous points) and has a lucrative defence lined up in France. Cook had to make do with an undercard win over Guyana's Vincent Howard at Huddersfield in his only outing since. He must be still kicking himself at those two pounds he failed to shift to make the lightweight limit. He was unprofessional. And paid a high price.
It now remains to be seen how he fares at the scales for this one. It was reported he was inside the stipulated weight of 9st 12lbs for the Howard fight in September, but at 28, it can't be getting any easier to make lightweight and he has already boxed at 10 stone where he won the Welsh light-welterweight title with a first round stoppage of Woody Greenaway back in 1999. He certainly looks big enough to compete there successfully again, though to accept this fight for, frankly, an unregarded 'world' lightweight title, must suggest that Jason can make 9st 9lbs again. All the same, it is a worry. He was given two hours to remove the excess pounds after the weigh-in for Zoff, but only managed to lose half a pound.
It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the hard-punching, talented Cook, whose left hook earned him the nickname of "The Power" long before he bombed out Italy's Sandro Casamonica in a stunning European title triumph in August last year. A brilliant amateur, Cook captured an ABA title and a Commonwealth silver before turning pro in 1996 and cruising to five straight victories. Fight number six came against Birmingham journeyman Trevor Smith, a southpaw from the Nobby Nobbs camp. It looked a 'gimmee' for Jason, but Smith caught him cold and it was all over inside the first round. Jason was typically gracious in defeat, "He clipped me with an overhand left and though I got up at six or seven, I was in no state to continue; the referee did the right thing." It remains his only career defeat.
He was soon back to regular ways, reeling off 12 straight victories, including that first round stoppage of Greenaway for the vacant Welsh light-welterweight title in late 1999, when his career was interrupted by an untimely prison sentence for credit card fraud ("not an experience I would like to repeat," he admits). Jason served six months and quickly made up for lost time - and turned his life around - in August last year courtesy of one superb left hook. At 10 days notice, he accepted a showdown with Sandro Casamonica for the vacant European lightweight title in Italy. It was a daunting task. The last British fighter to win a European title in Italy had been Pat Barrett way back in 1990, but Cook climbed off the floor in a sensational third round to flatten the local man with that potent hook. "It's like a dream," said the new champion. "My life has changed, it still hasn't sunk in. That was the best punch I’ve thrown in my life, and it came when I most needed it. This is all like a dream to me."
The dream continued when he made the first defence of his crown in his own hometown and dismantled French challenger Nasser Lakrib with body shots in five impressive rounds. But the second defence against Zoff turned into a nightmare before the first bell, though he managed to salvage a fine win over former the WBA lightweight champion.
His opponent next week, Olveira, is the reigning Argentine lightweight champion and ranked number 22 by the Independent World Boxing Rankings (Cook is number 10), so is clearly no mug. He retained his national title in September with a unanimous 10-round decision over the experienced Ricardo Silva in Buenos Aires to take his record to 19-3-2 (10). Like most Argies, the 27-year-old will no doubt possess sound boxing fundamentals, a good defence and decent power, but two of his three defeats came by stoppage, which makes one wonder about his ability to stand up to the powerful left hooks of Cook. Furthermore, Olveira has never fought outside his native country as a pro. The Bridgend venue next week is already sold out, and will be plenty intimidating to a first time visitor like Olveira.
Cook will thrive on the atmosphere of course. The home man took his record to 21-1 (9) with his three round battering of Guyana's normally durable Vincent Howard last time out in September and will want to have something to show for the frustrations this year has brought him. As well as blowing his European title, the Maesteg fighter's progress has been hampered by an ankle injury, so next week is all about making up for a wasted Summer.
He could go out there and overpower his untested opponent early, but the more likely scenario is he emerges on a hard-earned decision.
Re: Jason Cook's opponent confirmed
Although not confirmed its sounds like Bennett has a golden opportunity to get in the domestic mix. This devision is clogged up at the moment, with as many as 5 fighters with a concievable argument for top spot.bennie wrote:Cook's opponent for the vacant IBO lightweight title on Saturday week is Ariel Olveira of Argentina.
The chief support sees Hartlepool's Kevin Bennett challenging Michael Muya of Kenya for the Commonwealth lightweight title, but the latter fight is not definitely confirmed as yet.
I actually thought Burke was still the Commonwealth champion, I can't remember him vacating the title. Is he still WBU champ?? What's Muya like?
Re: Jason Cook's opponent confirmed
Burke gave up his Commonwealth title after winning the WBU title from Colin Dunne. He then gave up the WBU title to concentrate on his European title challenge to Stefano Zoff in the Summer (it was too good a payday to let the crappy WBU dictate who he fights).stujones wrote:Although not confirmed its sounds like Bennett has a golden opportunity to get in the domestic mix. This devision is clogged up at the moment, with as many as 5 fighters with a concievable argument for top spot.bennie wrote:Cook's opponent for the vacant IBO lightweight title on Saturday week is Ariel Olveira of Argentina.
The chief support sees Hartlepool's Kevin Bennett challenging Michael Muya of Kenya for the Commonwealth lightweight title, but the latter fight is not definitely confirmed as yet.
I actually thought Burke was still the Commonwealth champion, I can't remember him vacating the title. Is he still WBU champ?? What's Muya like?
He's currently given up boxing for the nightclubs of Liverpool.