HARTLEPOOL'S Peter Cope got back on the boxing bandwagon with a draining title success over Stockton’s Abdon Cesar in Gateshead on Saturday night, writes Peter Mann.

Cope, who had not fought since late November, hopes that winning the Challenge belt, by the tightest of margins after referee Andrew Wright scored the bout 77-76, pushes him onto better things.

Cesar certainly made him work for the victory though as the ever-vociferous Barmy Army sang Cope home.

A tricky customer from the off Cesar got stuck in to Cope and made life difficult, referee Wright stepping in to break the pair on a number of occasions. Both fighters claimed they had control of the contest and but for a point deduction late on, the fight could easily have ended a draw.

Afterwards, Cope, whose camp are mulling over an offer of an overseas fight, said: “I really wanted to fight him (Cesar) our way.

“I was trying not to rush things as he was leaning in a lot and pushing downwards into me which was extremely frustrating and meant it was hard for me to get clean work off and I had to keep my composure.

“He was an awkward, horrible opponent and I’m just glad that I managed to get the win and can push on. I’ve been training all year and it certainly wasn’t my fault the bout was scrappy.”

Elsewhere on the card there was a returning success for Fishburn’s Gary Fox, Sunderland’s Lee Mould, and the Fighting Chance five of Jamie Jones, Mark White, Jone TK, Jamie Humble and Kyle Redfearn all collecetd victories; Redfearn, on his debut, Jone TK, and Humble, all scored stoppage wins to the delight of the home support.

For Fox though it was all about putting the past behind him, dusting off the ring rust, and making a fresh start. Watched by his family, and eight-year-old daughter Shannon at ringside he said: “I wasn’t really in the gym much in the build-up to my last fight and it showed as I gassed out early.

“However, I’ve felt that I really needed to give it one last run and I felt I did that here. I probably could have stopped him but I wanted the rounds in and did as I was told by Fanno (trainer Neil Fannan).

“Now I just want to keep in the gym, keep my head and weight down, and push things on (at light welterweight).”