Boxing: England reward for champ Joe (From Echo)

Boxing: England reward for champ Joe

1:51pm Tuesday 11th March 2008 in

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RAYLEIGH Boxing Club's Joe Cooke has received quick reward for his success in becoming England's Golden Gloves champion.

For Cooke been called up to box for England in the three-nations international next month in Cardiff and success there would see him flying off to Russia to take on their champion.

Cooke's victory in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Golden Gloves event came when he outpointed more experienced Lewis "The Hitman" Garnett, from Shildon ABC, at Knottingley Leisure Centre near Barnsley in Yorkshire.

Both fighters weighed in at 48 kgs and Cooke was soon being cheered on by a coachload of supporters who made the long trip north.

The fight was the national final of the open class Golden Gloves, the highest level for schoolboy boxing in the country.

In the first round Cooke, 14, was caught by an early Garnett backhand, but the Rayleigh boy landed a similar punch of his own and followed with a left hook to visibly shake his rival.

Cooke took the opening round 3-2 and was 5-3 up after the second. In this round a left, right, left, hook nearly put Garnett through the ropes and the referee had to allow the opponent time to regain his footing.

Cooke was landing some devastating body shots and ended with good clean scoring shots to the head.

Garnett was officially warned for holding in the third and Cooke boosted picking up this precious extra point by closing with another devastating backhand and left hook.

Cooke won 7-3 and club coach Graham French said: "Cookie is a great little boxer.

"He is a quiet and very down to earth lad. He always applauds his opponents and is very respectful to all his opponents, clubmates and coaches.

"Joe's dad Les has spent a lot of time training his son and preparing him to take on the big time and what a great job he has done.

"At the end Cookie shook my hand and said he couldn't have done it without me. I am very proud to have helped him."

l THURROCK enjoyed three successes at the Golden Gloves finals.

Thomas Beaney, Charlie Driscoll - enjoying his third success - and Simon O'Driscoll all box for the West Ham club.