Dillon Cook: Boxing, 4SF, Slice of the Midwest & More

Exclusive Interview by Jesse “New School” Wright
Photos by Sherry Cook/KO Photography
Photo of Tony Holden copyrighted by Ringside Report

“It’s definitely special to me, but I think it’s also circumstantial. It’s kind of rare that somebody gets to build up their career in their hometown, especially when it’s in the Midwest. So when Tony (Holden) came in I was thankful for it. It’s nice to be able fight in front of your hometown people.” —Dillon Cook

I’ve just about made it down the line talking to everybody from the Four State Franchise, and they don’t make them any more polite than these guys. It might be an element of shyness, but not one of these guys will smack talk or brag, let alone just talk about themselves. Even with the biggest stage of his career less than a month away, Dillon would rather stay humble and simply let his actions do the talking when the time comes.

JW: I’ve pretty much spoken to everybody on the Four State Franchise, and I want to go over that a little bit. When I spoke to Trey (Lippe Morrison) he told me the story of how he got started with Tony Holden, and essentially pulled Tony out of retirement. How did you become involved, and what was the process of you getting started on the team?

I fought at Buffalo Run Casino on the undercard of the ESPN card. That was the first time they got to see me and what I’m all about. Six months later he contacted us and told us his plan about the Four State Franchise, and my brother and I joined up.

JW: A lot of people have told me that Tony is a good, honest promoter, and from talking to him I can tell that he’s a good guy. What is your relationship with Tony like?

We’re definitely closer than most promoters and fighters. He’s treated me right and helped get me to where I’m at now.

JW: In that regard, what has he done to get you over that hump and really perpetuate your career?

Just getting my name out there in the media and locally. He’s brought the fights to local TV so people get to watch. He’s really built up a local fan base here.

JW: All of your fights have been in that general vicinity: most of them in Oklahoma, a few in Missouri and one in Kansas. Is that special to you, maybe in the same way that Terence Crawford prefers to fight in Oklahoma, or is it more circumstantial?

It’s definitely special to me, but I think it’s also circumstantial. It’s kind of rare that somebody gets to build up their career in their hometown, especially when it’s in the Midwest. So when Tony came in I was thankful for it. It’s nice to be able fight in front of your hometown people.

JW: Everyone I’ve talked to as far as fighters go that come out of Oklahoma are the nicest, most humble guys. Is there something in the water, or what is it that makes you guys that way?

I think it’s just kind of a Midwest thing with us country boys that grew up in the “Bible Belt”.

JW: Your next fight is going to be on March 25th, and it’s going be on Shobox: The Next Generation. Are you starting to feel those nerves, or maybe increased nerves now that your fight will be shown to a much bigger market?

Yeah, I get nervous before every fight. On Showtime it makes it worse. It comes and goes, I try not to focus on it too much. I’m just trying to get in the best shape that I can.

JW: How is training going for you?

It’s going good. I’ve gotten in good shape and gotten some good sparring in with a variety of guys.

JW: You’re still very young which is very exciting. You’re at that point where you are going to start crossing over and building your fan base.What do you see in your future over the next two year span?

If this fight goes well, which I’m planning on, I think it will instantly come to people coming to me, and asking me to fight on cards. Maybe within the next year and a half I’ll be getting an ABA title. I just want to jump up the rankings and get in the top ten.

JW: What can we expect in a Dillon Cook fight? Especially with this being an 8 rounder?

I’ll probably start out just boxing and feeling him out. One of my main strengths is my speed. I’m trying to up my power, because I don’t have a lot of knockouts, and I’ve gone the distance in a lot of my fights. So an 8 rounder shouldn’t be a problem. I just want to be fast and a little bit flashy. Defense isn’t going to be a problem because it’s always been one of my strengths.

JW: As you’ve gone up the ranks, and the level of competition has increased, and I’m sure that your sparring partners have stepped up in quality as well, what has proven to be the biggest challenge at that next level?

Of course sparring gets a lot harder, so it wears down on you. You try to find guys who are really good, and then guys who are a little less so you don’t wear yourself out. We’ve sparred against Terence Crawford before, but that’s not somebody you’d want to work with everyday.

JW: What was it like sparring with “Bud”?

It was intimidating at first; he’s a world champion. As the rounds went by, I settled in and got comfortable. I didn’t win by any means, but it kind of helped me to understand where I’m at and where I need to be.

JW: He’s world class.

He’s damn good, that’s for sure.

JW: Who are you training with now?

My dad trains me.(Dallas Cook)

JW: Have you worked with the Rouse’s at all?

Randy brought Jarrett out to spar with me once.

JW: Do you plan on taking the relationship with your father as your father as far as it will go?

I’m planning on staying with him. He got me this far, so I plan on going all the way with him.

JW: The father son relationship has proven to be extremely effective. What Randy Rouse told me is that it has to do with the father’s ability to push his sons buttons. What makes it so effective for you working with your father?

Like you said, he can push my buttons and get me going when I need it. More than anything, he can read me better than anybody. He can read me and make adjustments. We really feed off each other and bounce ideas off each other. We’re always on the same page.

JW: What are some words that you live by?

I just try to follow God’s plan for me. I leave it in his hands and rely on him.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]