New WBO super-featherweight champion Nicky Cook put his win over Alex Arthur down to his dad Paul's tactics.
Father and son get it spot on to seal world-title win
Nicky Cook revealed his father was behind the perfect tactics that saw him outbox Alex Arthur and claim the WBO super-featherweight title.
The challenger was hugely confident in the build-up to the fight and it soon became clear just why as he dominated the Scot on the way to a unanimous decision.
Cook turned in a punch-perfect performance to dominate from start to finish and as he sat with the belt proudly round his waist, was quick to pay tribute to dad and trainer, Paul.
"Me and Dad, we had a great gameplan," he told
Sky Box Office.
"We knew if we did we did it for 12 rounds non-stop we'd walk away with the belt.
From the first bell Cook frustrated Arthur with snappy combinations and was the busier boxer all night.
He even did it moving up from featherweight but put his success down to the culimation of three months work in the gym - including a 12-rounder with former European light-welterweight champion, Colin Lynes.
"It was educated, boxing with him (Arthur), but also not flying around the ring," he said.
"It was just keeping him at arm's distance, letting the punches go at arm's reach - and it worked a treat!"
After securing his first world title and the promise of bigger fights to come, Cook could not hide his delight and promised his family would share in his success.
He has been a professional for 10 years and had hoped in the build-up that winning the WBO strap would secure some lucrative paydays.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic, over the moon," he said.
"It means so much for my family, I can buy our house outright and secure their future."
The gracious Dagenham fighter also had kind words for his opponent Arthur and promised the pair would be reunited soon in more relaxed surroundings.
"Alex is a great guy, we've exchanged numbers and I'm going to buy him a beer," he said.
"He's going to come down to London with his family and we're going to go out for a nice meal."
