After surviving a first round scare where he was dropped twice, Shervantaigh Koopman has admitted that experienced Canadian boxer Brandon Cook was a tough opponent.
Koopman pulled himself up after the knockdowns and stopped Cook in the fifth round to win the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental junior-middleweight title at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday evening.
“It was a tough fight, but I showed that I have a heart, I can get back up and win. People had questions about that and they saw it for themselves,” Koopman remarked.
The unbeaten former South African junior-middleweight champion added: “When we started I had to feel his power. He caught me, he’s got power. I did my things and won the fight.”
Following the win, the 30-year-old Koopman, who is based in Primrose, improved his record to 15 victories with 10 stoppages while Cook dropped to 26 wins and three losses. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
