OWEN Cooper bounced back from his first career loss to Ekow Essuman last July with a hard-fought 10-round points win over Chris Kongo. Referee Kevin Parker scored it 96-94 in Cooper’s favour after the 24-year-old took his taller opponent’s best shots early and took over the contest.
Kongo’s jab was a key weapon as expected. Spearing out the left range-finder to keep Cooper guessing from a safe distance. Cooper’s feet quickened in the third as he found a home for his own body shots on the inside.
Kongo had rediscovered his groove by the fifth, launching some accurate uppercuts as Cooper bored in. The Worcester man was having his moments as well. Particularly in round six, as Cooper got the hands moving.
The momentum gently shifted as Kongo’s effort levels dipped and Cooper upped the workrate in round eight. The London man was looking tired as they entered the ninth. Cooper had switched his tactics and pushed the tiring Kongo onto the back foot.
Both men let the hands roll in the final round. Cooper improves to 11-1 (4 KOs) while Kongo’s career is on the ropes as he drops to 17-3 (7 KOs).
“I felt as the fights go on, he starts to fatigue a little bit and I believe in the work I do in the gym,” said Cooper.
