SECONDSOUT Birtley quartet battle on into next phase

BIRTLEY have four boxers still battling in the England Boxing Development Championships.

Natalia Johnson, Luca Bloomfield and Phillip Gavin all received walkovers in the Tyne, Tees and Wear Association finals until October 8 back at Ferryhill Community Centre, while Jay Brough comfortably beat Ryan Hatton (Middlesbrough) in the Junior Class One at 57kg.

“These two had boxed twice before with one win apiece so this was like a decider,” said Birtley coach Graeme Rutherford. “The first round proved to be a tight affair with Hatton forcing the fight but Jay landed the cleaner shots with smart counters.

“Jay started to get on top in the second, forcing Hatton onto the back foot. Hatton staged a big rally in the first 20 to 30 seconds of round three but Jay got the better of the exchanges. In the last minute Jay put the result beyond doubt with some good hard shots which had Hatton reeling.” THIS weekend will see the debut of another Cope in the professional ranks as former national champion Adam Cope, 21, makes the transition on the Dave Garside-Phil Jeffries card at Hartlepool’s Borough Hall.

It’s not a bad stage to make your professional bow either, one headlined by former world title challenger Martin Ward aiming for European super bantamweight gold against Abigial Medina along with appearances from other regional stars such as Glenn Foot and Gary Fox.

Adam’s brothers Peter and Daniel are well known on the pro scene, both having challenged for titles in recent times, while a further two brothers, Luke and Joe, train at the Gus Robinsons Gym in Hartlepool.

Debuting at super lightweight, this is a division packed with possible local clashes against Ross Jameson, Darren Reay and Kalam Leather, as well as the flag-bearers Jeff Saunders, Glenn Foot and Josh Leather.

First, however, Cope must oppose journeyman Youseff Al Hamidi.

The brothers Cope though are highly optimistic of Adam’s future. Peter, 26, who faces Andrew Townend next in a Commonwealth lightweight eliminator at the Doncaster Dome in November, said: “You can expect a really good prospect who doesn’t need to wait around too long before stepping up.

“I think his debut will be good to watch but it’s nice to get it out of the way as well and move on.

“Adam was a quality amateur fighter who had already fought all the top boys and he will take that into the pros.

“We started boxing together 10 years ago now so I’m very excited to watch his pro journey start.”

Daniel, 27, is ticking over waiting for a date after a couple of Area dust-ups in recent times against Tom Whitfield, winning the Area title in Northumberland before losing it in Sedgefield in his last outing.

“Adam has been looking really good in training,” said Daniel. “It’s the best physical shape I have seen him in.

“As an amateur he won a few national titles and boxed some of the best lads in the country.

“Nobody would fight him unless it was in the championships.”

Terry Tyres and Tom Hill along with Cope are scheduled to make their professional debuts on the undercard this Saturday.