A New Black Eye for Boxing: CRASHING AND BURNING IN ENGLAND

By Donald C. Stewart

In the ECHO Arena in Liverpool, English boxer, Nicky Cook was stretchered out the ring after 1 minute and 33 seconds of the WBO Super featherweight World title fight against Ricky Burns.

Cook had admitted to SKY Sports reporters that his two years out the ring had been due to a degenerative spinal condition. It has been reported that betting was suspended on the day of the fight as it is believed Cook had told others he may not last the distance. Betting was heavy on a third round knockout. As it turned out it didn’t even manage to get to a second.

A tam shot that managed to hit Cook on the back saw Cook hit the canvass like a British Heavyweight’s world title aspirations. He was more than hurt; he was in distress. Eventually the stretcher was called for and we saw him off to the hospital.

Commentators were left surmising how Cook had managed to get through training camp or to get past the medicals. Perhaps we shall never know but the word mismatch has once again tarnished British boxing.

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