logo
James Cook was universally adored in boxing – his pursuit of the impossible dream will endure

James Cook was universally adored in boxing – his pursuit of the impossible dream will endure

Independenta day ago

James Cook was known and respected as one of the nicest men in the boxing business on both sides of the ropes.
His death last Saturday was greeted with a rare and sincere outpouring of heartfelt messages, genuine love and sorrow. In the modern business of boxing, it is impossible to find anybody with a bad word to say about Cook – he was universally adored.
Cook belonged to a different boxing world, a world where good fighters knew they would seldom get a chance and never get a break. Cook struggled for recognition as a boxer and chased a living away from his Hackney home in fights as the designated loser in Germany, Italy, France, Holland and Finland. He was robbed of money, robbed of decisions, but still he kept fighting against all odds.
The motto in boxing is simple and brutal: Have gloves, will travel. Cook was the king of the travelling fighters for a few years in the eighties. There were signs that he could beat the best prospects and compete with the best fighters, but the truth is that James Cook's face never fit. 'I'm too good looking for this business,' he joked.
Cook's win in 1986 over the prospect, Michael Watson, who was unbeaten in seven, is a prime example; Watson was still the star after the loss, Cook still an annoyance. The fight before Watson, Cook had lost in Amsterdam and in the fight after, he lost in France. It was the reality for a lot of invisible boxers.
'It was a tough business back then,' said Cook. 'It was hard to get a break and that is why I had to go overseas. I had to earn a living.'
Cook had been a professional for seven years, fought 19 times, losing seven when he got his chance at the British middleweight title. On that night in 1988 in Sheffield, he was stopped by the great Herol Graham. The best middleweights in Britain then, Watson and Nigel Benn, had no interest in fighting Graham; Cook dared to be great.
At that time, it was obvious just how decent Cook was. He was never bitter about missing out on the carnival of fights involving Benn, Watson and Chris Eubank. He never had an invite – he was not the type of man you invited to that type of jamboree. Cook was back on the road, but this time the small-hall circuit in Britain, after the Graham loss, back earning a living without a single complaint.
In 1990 he was given another shot at the British title, but he had to travel to Belfast to fight local idol, Sam Storey. It looked like a typical night on the road and against the odds for Cook; he stopped Storey in ten rounds, won the British super-middleweight title and then travelled to France to add the European version with a 12th round stoppage. James Cook was anonymous no more. Well, that was the sensible thinking.
In late April, a few days before the Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr fight, I spoke to Cook during that week of events. He was drained, weary, shrunken, but still the smiling and optimistic. He arrived one day, fresh from chemotherapy – I knew the signs, but James was not playing the cancer game. There was no searching for pity in his eyes. He had business on the night; he would be in the corner with Anthony Yarde. Let me tell you this now: James Cook did not play games.
I stood with Cook and Yarde and remembered a classic but lost night in British boxing. It was 1991 at York Hall and for some ridiculous reason, Cook was defending his European super-middleweight title at the tiny venue against Mark Kaylor, who had been one of the stars of the business and remains the last great East End boxing idol. In the modern game, that fight would be in front of 20,000 at the O2.
'It was just the way it was,' remembered Cook. Yarde listened and was stunned. On the night, Cook silenced Kaylor's faithful with a punch-perfect stoppage in the sixth round. Kaylor retired after the fight, Cook defended his European title at a leisure centre in Wandsworth in his next fight. A glance at Cook's record is a glance back at an anonymous time in British boxing for many men, who simply never had a break and had to struggle for every single tiny bit of recognition. Cook struggled, but he never moaned or complained.
In 1992 he took the money, went to France and lost the European title, then he regained his British super-middleweight title at a wave-pool centre at the Elephant and Castle in south London. At the same time, Benn and Eubank were making millions at the same weight.
James Cook fought for the last time at York Hall in 1994 when he lost his British title. And then the real work started on the safe side of the ropes at the Pedro Club, an old-fashioned youth club, on Hackney's Murder Mile.
On his commendation for his MBE in 2007, it said he had performed miracles on the streets of Hackney. And he had. 'The boxing gym gives them hope and they don't have a lot of hope,' he told me in 2019. 'They can see what boxing can do for a man – boxers have a good name in here.' Cook loved the Pedro, and it seems that every day was a brutal struggle for funding to keep the doors open and to keep his dreams alive. He was the man for the struggle - James Cook never turned away from any fight.
He was still part of that impossible dream circuit when he died last Saturday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball' - who is new City man Cherki?
'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball' - who is new City man Cherki?

BBC News

time7 minutes ago

  • BBC News

'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball' - who is new City man Cherki?

Rayan Cherki is only the latest talent fresh off the Lyon production line, but he may be the best joined Lyon at the age of seven from AS Saint-Priest and, aged 16 years and 140 days, became their youngest goalscorer in January that, in November 2019, a Champions League debut came against Zenit, while he also helped France reach the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championships in has just enjoyed a breakout campaign in Ligue 1, providing 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through-balls and 48 successful dribbles.A return of 12 goals is by far the best of his short career, but it is his work and understanding of the game off the ball that has arguably improved the most this football expert Julien Laurens, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast, said: "He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 - even before that - the talent is there, left foot or right foot."A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, to be an inswinger every time is just incredible."He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now."Of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 last season, 22 came with the left and 22 with the growing reputation was only enhanced by Thursday's stunning international debut on Thursday against Spain, when he sparked France's comeback from 5-1 Laurens certainly isn't Cherki's only legend Thierry Henry has previously said he has "never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him", while Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette described him as "special".Cherki, also part of the France squad that finished runners-up at the 2024 Olympics, scored in both legs for Lyon against Manchester United in a Europa League quarter-final defeat in to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball."He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius."

Man Utd on red alert with PSG ‘open to SELLING Champions League hero Gianluigi Donnarumma for bargain transfer fee'
Man Utd on red alert with PSG ‘open to SELLING Champions League hero Gianluigi Donnarumma for bargain transfer fee'

The Sun

time14 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Man Utd on red alert with PSG ‘open to SELLING Champions League hero Gianluigi Donnarumma for bargain transfer fee'

MANCHESTER UNITED have been put on alert after hearing Paris Saint-Germain's bargain asking price for Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Red Devils are hunting for a new No.1 this summer as uncertainty continues around the future of current goalkeeper Andre Onana. 3 3 Onana joined the club in a £47.1m deal two years ago, but has endured a difficult time at Old Trafford, with reports suggesting the club are looking at replacing him. Man Utd have expressed interest in Donnarumma, 26, during his contract stand-off with the newly crowned Kings of Europe. Donnarumma, considered one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, has entered the final 12 months of his contract in the French capital. And now United's ears have perked after PSG set a €40m (£34m) asking price for Donnarumma, according to La Repubblica. With no extension agreed and financial terms unresolved, the club are open to selling him this summer. PSG are keen for the Italy international to stay, but he has reportedly been underwhelmed by the club's proposals so far. United boss Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in a new first-choice stopper, with the chance to sign Donnarumma too good to turn down. As well as winning the treble this season, he was also player of the tournament as Italy won Euro 2020. England fans will remember him for his heroics in the final at Wembley, which saw him save THREE penalties as Italy won. According to L'Equipe, the PSG goalkeeper has been vocal about the possibility of joining an English team during chats with his Italian team-mates. Former Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal launches scathing attack on old side while heaping praise on bitter rivals But Donnarumma has insisted he wants to stay at the Parc des Princes , despite reports. He said after Italy's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Moldova: "My priority is to stay at PSG. "I don't think there will be problems with the negotiations." Donnarumma joined PSG five years ago from AC Milan on a free transfer, and has made 154 appearances in all competitions for the French champions. Manchester City are also interested in Donnarumma as they look for a long-term replacement for club legend Ederson, who turns 32 before the start of next season. United, meanwhile, have also been interested in Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez. 3

Rayan Cherki signs for Manchester City on five-year deal
Rayan Cherki signs for Manchester City on five-year deal

The Independent

time22 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Rayan Cherki signs for Manchester City on five-year deal

Manchester City have completed the signing of France midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon for an initial fee of 36million euros (£30.5m). The 21-year-old moves after an impressive season with Lyon in which he scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists in 40 appearances. He also made an eye-catching debut for France last week when he came off the bench and scored in a 5-4 Nations League loss to Spain. Cherki has put pen to paper on a five-year deal which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. He said: 'This is a dream for me. Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special. 'I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep (Guardiola) and his backroom staff. 'Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace. 'I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future. I can't wait to show City fans what I can do.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store