Summers and Robinson go to Cooper

New professionals Andrew Robinson and Ricky Summers have turned to Shaun Cooper to fulfil the "obvious potential" they displayed as amateurs.

Robinson and Summers make their paid debuts at Wolverhampton Civic Hall next Friday night fighting out of 'Coops Boxing Camp' in Brierley Hill.

Cooper will be their trainer and it's a coup for the 43-year-old from Dudley in two top prospects from one of the town's amateur clubs, Lions ABC.

The duo shared six ABA Midlands titles and Summers was in the semi-finals of the seniors, while Robinson twice reached the last four of the Novices.

Birmingham's Robinson, nicknamed 'the Animal,' will box at middleweight and the 27-year-old faces fellow seasoned amateur Bobby Wood.

Tipton's Summers, 24, starts at light heavyweight against the tricky Jody Meikle and Cooper will be right there in the corner on fight night.

He said: "I am over the moon these lads have come with us, it shows we are doing something right.

"It's a good thing and, fingers crossed, these lads can fulfil the obvious potential they have.

"Our job is to keep all of our fighters focussed, keep them pushing forward and go from there.

"It's all happening and everyone is enjoying it."

Cooper put his two new additions through a tough training camp before they accepted their first pro assignments to test their mettle.

He said: "The new lads have settled into the camp really well and have come through what we call 'the acid test.'

"I put them through an eight-week camp to show them what training for a pro fight is actually all about.

"If you can't do that, you are in the wrong game, I go a little bit easier but it's essentially the same.

"Ricky told me he had learned more in two weeks with us than in two years as an amateur.

"He's settling down a bit now, we have stopped him bouncing around! And, as he does, the more power is coming through his punches.

"Andrew is just a powerhouse, he's so strong and he just bombs forward but we are trying to get him boxing on the back-foot.

"It will take him a couple of fights to adapt."

Robinson and Summers are joined by fellow Cooper charge Steven Pearce, from Stourbridge, on the bill at the Civic.

Cooper is also now training Quinton Hillocks, the flamboyant 27-year-old born in Florida and raised in Brierley Hill who works as a male model.

The super middleweight's career has stalled since his five fights, with three wins, in his debut year and he hasn't boxed since October 2009.

But undefeated Pearce, 27, is ready to go as he takes on game Brummie Sid Razak at light welter and Cooper likes what he sees from each fighter.

He said: "Quinton is a hard puncher, that's what we have picked up on, and he knows he can better himself.

"Steven is a pressure fighter who likes to get inside, bang to the body and have a tear up.

"When he's in there with people who come to fight, then he will come into his own."

For more information and tickets to the Civic, call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.