Short debut for shorts-less Conor Cooke
Conor Cooke feels more at home in the squared circle than the octagon and claims home and boxing is where his heart is at now.
A former top amateur, the Antrim man moved away from the boxing ring in his mid teens, becoming a top kickboxer before embarking on a 13-fight mixed martial arts career which saw him fight on a number of BAMMA cards
However, ‘Da Crook’ played prodigal son on the ‘Celtic Clash 6’ card last Saturday night and return to the sport were it all began, winning in impressive fashion in the process.
Cooke posted a ‘walk off’ knockout of Pawel Kucharski in the second round of their fight, the show opener at the Good Counsel GAA Club in Drimnagh.
Speaking after his first ever pro boxing bout the experienced fighter noted how he is back doing his first fight love and has felt at home since teaming up with Dee Walsh.
Now having got step one out of the way, the 31-year-old is determined to make strides up the boxing ladder over the coming years.
“In camp and training I feel like a duck returning to water. I feel like I was born to do boxing I should never have left, but I am back now,” he told Irish-Boxing.com following career win number one.
“When I was 16 I boxed for Ireland in the Four Nations and then the club closed down and I had nowhere to train. I found myself kickboxing for 10 years and I always said I’d go back boxing when the time was right.”
“I met Dee and them and it feels right now. I retired from MMA and I am going to give boxing a crack before I get too old,” he added before revealing his fight ambitions.
“I just want to keep busy for now and then look at an Irish title. I feel I have a lot to show and I have potential. I have the right people around me now and I believe I can do well in the game.”
Cooke certainly didn’t look out of place in the ring and although he was sporting shorts borrowed from a journeyman as he had forgotten his own.
Fit, big, aggressive, and powerful, the Ulsterman certainly seems to have potential.
He also looked as assured as any debutant, but claims he did have doubts and worries leading into the fight.
“I wasn’t nervous, but I really felt pressure. It was like all eyes on me feeling. Everyone wanted to know how I would get on and how would I make the transition from MMA back to boxing. I felt pressure that way more than nerves.”
“That win gives me confidence. I did question myself going into the fight. I was thinking how am I going to cope and handle it. I haven’t fought in a couple of years. I was wondering if I could handle the lights and pressure, but I felt relaxed and confident in there.”
Cooke also produced the KO of the night landing a sweet uppercut on Kucharski, a shot reminiscent of the one his Coach Dee Walsh landed on Terry Maughan en-route to Irish light middleweight title success.
Indeed, the new addition to the cruiserweight scene admits it was Walsh, a fighter knowledgeable Belfast fans miss, who inspired the highlight finish.
“To be honest I don’t throw many upper cuts, but I heard Dee in my corner calling for it and auto pilot I threw it and it landed lovely,” he added before revealing the interesting short story.
“First pro fight I forgot my shots! My head was up my hole. I was sorting tickets and lifts for people down to Dublin. I left the house without my shorts and I am wearing the Bulgarian’s shorts, I suppose it goes with my hair and they are good luck shorts now!”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)