Jamie Cox 

Swindon's gold medal-winning boxing hero
 
Jamie Cox became an instant star the day he struck gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

The 19-year-old fighter from the Walcot Amateur Boxing Club was declared the winner of the final of the Light Welterweight [64kg] Division after his opponent, Moses Kopo, from Lesotho, unexpectedly pulled out in the final.

 

 

Boxing commentators even hinting that it may have been the ferocious nature in which Cox had dispatched his previous opponents on his way to the final that psyched the 27-year-old African out of taking part.

 

Comments which, in a nutshell, sum up why Cox is now regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in world boxing.

 

A lethal combination of a never-say-die attitude together with fearless punching the reason why boxing promoter and empresario Frank Warren decribed Cox as "the real deal" when he signed him to his professional boxing stable a year after his Commonwealth triumph.

 

"Jamie has 'world champion' stamped all over him," echoing Richie Woodhall, who went on to train Cox.

 

"He was a phenomenal amateur and I believe that in a few years time he will a force to be reckoned with on the world scene."

In the world of hard knocks (quite literally) we wish Jamie the very best of luck.