Cox's trainer says Swindon man is ready for British title shot (From Swindon Advertiser)

Cox's trainer says Swindon man is ready for British title shot

9:30am Monday 23rd May 2011 in Jamie Cox By Steve Butt

JAMIE Cox could win a British title right now according to his trainer John Costello.

The 24-year-old’s impressive victory on Saturday night had everyone ringside speculating just how far Cox can go in the sport.

And his trainer Costello claims the sky is the limit for the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist.

Cox saw off former WBF champion Marcus Portman inside three rounds in his first fight at light-middleweight and Costello says his man should fear nobody in the division.

“Jamie could fight and win a British title right now,” claimed Birmingham-based Costello. “I never had any doubts he would beat Marcus or anyone else in this divison for that matter.

“We took Marcus very seriously because he is a former WBF champion and has challenged for British and Commonwealth titles. Nobody normally looks good against Marcus but Jamie made him look very ordinary.

“Marcus gave Bradley Pryce a good fight for the Commonwealth title so it was a very tricky fight for Jamie. He could have struggled but Jamie looked extremely sharp and to stop Marcus inside three rounds is fantastic.”

Costello now wants Cox straight back in the gym and says he would take a British title shot right now.

Lancashire’s Prince Arron is the current British champion and Costello says Cox is ready for that fight now.

“I’d take that fight now,” said Costello. “Jamie would beat Prince Arron right now, in fact in my opinion he would beat any light-middleweight right now.

“The one fighter who would cause Jamie the greatest problem would be Ryan Rhodes but even then I am not saying Jamie cannot beat him because he is definitely good enough to beat him.

“Jamie will be back in the ring in a week and then we’ll look to get the next fight as soon as possible, possibly in July.

“We’d take a British title fight tomorrow but I guess it would be nice to have one or two more fights over eight or 10 rounds to get Jamie even sharper before that fight.”

Costello also revealed that his boxer’s preparation for the Portman fight was hampered by a cut eye leaving Cox unable to spar just weeks prior to the bout.

“Jamie had a cut to his eye which prevented him from sparring with four weeks left before the fight,” said Costello.

“That makes Saturday’s performance even more impressive because had he got that sparring he would have been even sharper.

“Jamie was very responsive in the corner, he carried out the game plan to perfection so I am extremely pleased with him.

“It was a fantastic performance and he definitely deserved his lemonade and burger after the fight.”