Swindon's Jamie back in the old routine (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon's Jamie back in the old routine

8:30am Monday 23rd May 2011 in Jamie Cox By Steve Butt

IT was business as usual for Jamie Cox on Saturday night as he made his long-awaited return to the ring with a polished victory over West Bromwich’s Marcus Portman.

Having been inactive for 14 months Cox could have been forgiven for being a little ring rusty but instead the Swindon boxer showed nothing of the sort.

So impressive was his three- round destruction of the experienced Portman, Cox cut a figure of a boxer who had been out of action for a matter of weeks not months.

Cox and his new trainer John Costello had promised a ‘new and improved’ boxer and if this latest performance was anything to go by then the future looks extremely bright for the 24-year-old.

Although this fight was supposed to be a routine victory for Cox, his opponent Portman posed a tricky challenge having once boasted the WBF title and challenged for the Commonwealth crown during his 30-fight career. It was also a step up in weight for Cox as he moved up to the light-middle division for the first time in his career.

Coupled with Cox’s recent problems outside the ring which saw him serve a short ban from the sport and deal with the sudden death of his father, an upset could easily have been on the cards.

But Cox entered the ring at London’s o2 Arena in great shape and totally focused on the job in hand.

“It was great to be back in the ring,” said a delighted Cox after the fight. “Marcus Portman was always going to be an awkward customer but he never hurt me and I was extremely pleased with my performance.

“I feel comfortable at light-middleweight and I am more powerful. I know Marcus well and he said he has never been hit so hard. He told me he couldn’t believe the power I had in my punches.”

Dominating the centre of the ring from the bell Cox quickly put Portman on the back foot as his fast jab and crisp combinations forced his rival onto the ropes.

Cox’s power was also clear to see as he hurt Portman with his right jabs, left hooks and powerful body blows.

Portman did catch Cox with a good right hand but the Swindon man proved his durability by jumping straight onto the front foot and pushing his rival back onto the ropes with another barrage of blows.

It was an impressive opening round by Cox, who could already sense an early finish was on the cards.

In the second, Cox was more than happy to trade punches with Portman as few of his blows missed his rival.

Cox quickly looked a class above Portman as he pinned him to the ropes numerous times during the round. A stoppage looked imminent as Cox’s precise jab, lightning fast hooks and piercing body blows left Portman wincing – only the sound of the bell saving him this time.

Tasting victory, Cox came out firing in the third round stunning Portman with a devastating left hook.

Several three-punch combinations sent Portman back onto the ropes before the referee stepped in just 51 seconds into the third to save the Midlands man from the indignity of having to pick himself up from the canvas.

It was Cox’s 15th career victory and an extremely professional performance which can only move him a step closer to a shot at a domestic title.

Nobody can doubt Cox’s phenomenal potential in the sport and providing his desire to succeed stays strong then surely the sky is the limit for the best boxing prospect to come out of Swindon since the likes of Eddie Neilson, Cameron Lithgow and Ricky Porter.