Smash and Grab – ‘Da Crook’ Cooke secures clash with Welsh champ

Conor Cooke [3(1)-0] will take a step up to the big leagues later this month.

Irish-Boxing.com can confirm that the Antrim Town cruiserweight will cross the Irish Sea to take on unbeaten Welshman Nathan Thorley [13(6)-0] on Friday November 22nd at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff.

‘Thunder’ Thorley. a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, is the reigning Welsh light heavyweight champion but has been campaigning at cruiserweight in recent times.

Having defeated Jermaine Asare for the Welsh 175lbs belt in 2017, Thorley had been due to face Paddy McDonagh for the BBBoC Celtic title this year but two separate dates would fall through and now he takes on another Irishman in the form of Cooke.

This bout will take place over six rounds – a step up for Cooke whose three previous contests have all been scheduled for four. The former professional mixed martial artist was in action last month, dominating Cork-based Lithuanian Staz Tomasevski on the Celtic Clash 9 bill in Belfast.

Cooke would call for a step-up after this win and will now take a leap versus Thorley – although he should boast something of a size advantage over his more experienced foe.

The clash in three week’s time features as part of a Mark Prior-promoted bill which also includes fights for mooted Gary Cully opponent Lance Cooksey, Olympian Fred Evans, and ‘Pink Tyson’ Kallia Kourouni.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)