Brothers in arms are hardly a new phenomenon in boxing.
You can reel off countless double acts, no doubt, but three champions from the same home?
You might be about to witness history if Adam Cope can beat his old gym colleague Jordan Ellison in Sunday’s mouthwatering North-East lightweight derby at the Stadium of Light.
It’s a big if, given the way Ellison traditionally rises to the task, but a win for Adam would make him the third Cope to lift Northern Area championship.
The unbeaten 26-year-old is bidding to follow in the ringsteps of elder brothers Peter and Daniel.
Southpaw Peter was the lightweight champion in 2014, when he outpointed John Green in South Shields, while Daniel took welterweight glory in 2016 in Ashington, where he stopped Tom Whitfield in eight rounds.
“I’m looking to get the lightweight title back in the family,” said Adam.
“I loved being at Daniel’s fight too, especially the way it finished after he’d lost to Tom previously.
“It was one of the best feelings I’ve had at a boxing show and I’m hoping Sunday will be a similar feeling.”
But the big clash at the Summer Rumble will be no gimme for the former national amateur champion, from Hartlepool.
He has known the Seaham boxer well, given they were both students at East Durham College in Peterlee and trained in the same Gus Robinson Developments gym.
Jordan was coached by Adam’s dad, the irrepressible Peter Cope Snr, while Adam was a member of the amateur team.
He knows Ellison’s record of 13-39-3 does not reflect his fiercely competitive nature.
It’s well worth noting the 26-year-old once gave Lewis Ritson a serious tussle for the Northern Area lightweight championship before ‘the Sandman’ knocked him out to the body.
Last November, he did outpoint Ritson’s Forest Hall team-mate, Terence Wilkinson, to win the vacant Northern Area light-welterweight belt at Rainton Arena.
It ended the Newcastle fighter’s 100 per cent run, one of eight unbeaten scalps he has taken during is career.
“I know Jordan and know how good he is,” said Cope, who trains out of the New Welfare gym in Hartlepool under coach, Andrew Close.
“He’s had a harder route than most, going out on the road and often boxing at short notice and not at his best weight.
“He’s already a champion but these are the fights I want – I don’t see much point in winning four-rounders.
“I think 10-rounder like this will suit my style. there is no pressure to rush, I’ll have more time to pick my shots and press at the right times.
“This is a great fight for me and I’ve prepared for the best Jordan Ellison.
“I feel sound and feel confident – if I box to the best of my ability I think I’ll bring the title back.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
