'Jamie can rule the world' (From Swindon Advertiser)

'Jamie can rule the world'

10:20am Monday 25th May 2009 in Jamie Cox By Steve Butt

JAMIE Cox can become a future world champion according to the Swindon boxer’s last opponent Mark Lloyd.

Welterweight Cox failed to produce a convincing display against Lloyd before eventually stopping him in the final round last month.

Without the stoppage Cox, pictured, was in danger of slipping to his first professional defeat but Lloyd claimed the Swindon southpaw is a champion in the making.

“He is something special,” said Lloyd. “I was very impressed with him. He has incredible power and speed - I have never been hit so hard in my career.

“One day I think he will be a world champion.”

Although the fight was a close and scrappy affair, Lloyd also admitted he feared the worst in the early stages of the bout.

“I am a tough fighter,” he said. “I have been around a bit and I like to fight on the inside and rough people up.

“I did that with Jamie but I remember him being so sharp and hitting so hard. He hit me with one right hand and I just thought ‘I’m not going to last much longer’.

“As the fight went on he seemed to tire and I thought I had a real chance of getting a draw or even winning. But he found something extra in the last two rounds.

“He’s certainly got a great engine and just how he came back like that I don’t know.”

Lloyd, stopped just 50 seconds from the final bell, was frustrated not to have held on for a points decision but admitted the best man won in the end.

“I heard the referee had me a point up so it is a shame I couldn’t hold on a few more seconds,” explained Lloyd. “But at the end of the day Jamie finished strong and deserved the win. I was just hanging in there in the end.”

Since the fight 22-year-old Cox and 33-year-old Lloyd have become friends and will also become sparring partners.

Cox’s trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick said: “I think it will be good for them both. Mark Lloyd is a tough, tough fighter and will provide some top class sparring for Jamie.

“As for Mark I believe he could now fight Kell Brook for the British title after his performance against Jamie but we’ll have to see what happens there.”

Cox meanwhile will return to the ring in July after which he could be set to fight for the English or British title.

Fitzpatrick added: “Both titles could be vacated soon and Jamie could be in line to fight for one of them but I think he will need one more fight before that happens.

“After the last fight we need to come back strong with a 10 out of 10 performance!”