Amateur champ set for debut after joining brothers in pro ranks

THERE’S a new Cope in town with 20-year-old former Senior National champion Luke Cope making his professional debut on Newcastle promoter Steve Wraith’s show in Darlington later this month.

Luke, the younger brother of pro fighters Peter and Daniel, has made the transition to the paid ranks and will trade, in the early stages at least, in the lightweight division.

Training with Imran Naeem at the Natural Progression gym in Stockton, Luke is already touted as being the most talented of the Cope brothers from Hartlepool.

“I had 44 fights as an amateur, winning 37 of them,” said Luke. “But I fancied a change as I’d been in the amateurs for some eight years and was relatively successful.”

Having considered turning pro last year, the younger Cope held off a little, biding his time before finally making the move with the Natural Progression Boxing Academy in Stockton, which has been his home since the turn of the year. Brothers Peter and Daniel have already shown the way – Peter is a former Northern Area champion and English title contender while Daniel also won a Northern Area title.

“I’ve been in the gym with Imran since January after a brief spell with Neil Fannon, which was good for me,” added Luke, “but this set-up is just around the corner from work which makes everything much easier.”

“I don’t want to try to over-impress, be too eager,” said Cope about his debut at the Dolphin Centre on Saturday May 26. “I’ve got four rounds and I just want to give a relaxed, good performance before moving on to the next fight.”

A stacked fight card also sees Ellis Corrie and Basi Razaq clash in a TeesTyne derby for the British Challenge belt, and former stablemates Richard O’Neill and Greg O’Neil colliding.

There are also outings for Tommy Ward and Troy Williamson, the return of Chris “Hightower” Burton, as well as debuts for Mark Downing and Michael Watson.