Boxing Preview: Nicky Cook – Yuri Voronin

Don’t Miss Matchroom Sports’ Promotion of Cook – Voronin For the European Featherweight Title At The Goresbrook LC in Dagenham Tonight!

At twenty six years old with 25 wins and no blemish to his record, current British, Commonwealth and European Featherweight Champion Nicky Cook looks set to add to his perfect C.V. tonight as he defends his European title against Ukrainian Champion Yuri Voronin, 24-4-1 (17). After coming off a very good win versus the previously unbeaten European Champion Cyril Thomas, the last two fights of “Cookie” have been far from adventurous.

Cook’s career started off solidly with a mix of KO and points wins over average opponents. His first big victories came first over ex-British Champion Gary Thornhill in 2002 and then in 2003 against Misheck Kondwani to win the Commonwealth title via twelfth round stoppage. These wins put the Dagenham body puncher firmly in the media frame. However, aside from his title fights, Cook hasn’t been matched with bigger and better opposition and while his opponent tonight has a creditable record, it is far from being looked on as impressive when compared to other champions.

Voronin has come up short against most of the good opponents he has faced with impressive records and Cook on paper appears out of his reach. However, I am confident that the visitor will make a good fight of it, both have proved capable of knockouts and this could be an entertaining fight.

The WBC ranks Cook as their number one contender and so hopefully soon a title shot will follow. However, it is unseen as to how he would square off if he were to fight someone such as Scott Harrison, Chris John, Juan Manuel Marquez or the current WBC champ Takashi Koshimoto. If he were to move up a division then he would be in the offices of legends such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao and Eric Morales.

These would all be very dangerous of Cook, however if he is ever to prove that he is more than just a contender then it is these fights that he needs to make, only then will we find out whether he is world champion material or merely a fighter with a padded record.