The Barmy Army is back .
One of boxing’s best-known sets of supporters will be descending on Houghton on Friday, October 1 when Adam Cope will make his long-awaited ring return.
The 25-year-old, one quarter of the fab four Hartlepool boxing brothers, is on part two of the Rainton Arena double bill staged by Phil Jeffries.
Adam began his professional career under Neil Fannan, with whom he won his debut contest in the Borough Hall in 2017, but is now being trained by his brother, Peter, in Hartlepool’s New Welfare gym.
Adam took his first steps in the sport like brothers, Luke, Peter and Daniel, at the famous Gus Robinson Developments gym in Hartlepool.
Peter and Daniel both won Northern Area titles while Peter challenged for the English super-featherweight title back in 2014.
Luke had been scheduled to appear on this show too but will now be boxing later in the year.
“It’s great to have Adam on at Rainton,” said Jeffries.
“The Barmy Army bring so much colour and atmosphere to wherever they go.
“I remember one of the first times Eddie Hearn came up to the North-East to do a show he knew about the Barmy Army.
“I’ve managed Peter and Dan before and it’s nice to be able to promote Adam. The Copes are a lovely family and Adam has so much talent, but we’ve not yet seen it in the professionals.”
Nik Gittus’s Wallsend Boxing Academy will be out in force at the Houghton venue.
Following the successful debut of Jordan Barker-Porter at last Friday’s Rainton show, another WBA female will be taking her first eagerly-anticipated paid steps.
Front-foot fighter Kerry Haley, who struck gold at the Haringey Cup as an amateur and a silver medalist at the National development championship and Winter Box cup, looks an exciting prospect.
Team-mate Rob Ismay is having his second comeback contest 22 months after his first.
Unbeaten ‘Izzy’, who won eight in a row under Fannan in his first blast as a pro, has shifted considerable pounds for this date following his win on the Christmas 2019 show at the same venue against Miloslav Pavek.
Another undefeated boxer, Adam Gair, is having his first bout for WBA after winning his first five pro contests when boxing out of the Dave Binns camp in Peterlee.
Given his 100 per cent start and that of another North-East cruiser, Middlesbrough’s Michael Webster, wouldn’t that be a brilliant Northern Area championship clash? The fans would love it.
Unbeaten South Shields boxer, Sam Menzies, will have his first bout in three and a half years on the show.
Recent Jaffa signing, Henry Thomas, a winner over Fonz Alexander last week, is straight back in action on his manager’s second event and there is a debut for Newcastle fighter Nathan Cummiskey, who is part of the fast-growing Jobes stable.
Words: Roy Kelly
