Constantin Ursu will defend his Commonwealth welterweight title against Owen Cooper with the added incentive of the vacant British championship also being on the line when they meet in Derby, England, on February 28. DAZN is set to broadcast live.
The 25-year-old Ursu, 14-0 (6 KOs), won the Commonwealth strap last March when he knocked out Eithan James in seven rounds before nothing his first successful defense over Ryan Amos via 12-round unanimous decision in November. From Plymouth and a southpaw, Ursu represented his country at junior and youth level as an amateur.
Cooper, from Worcester, is made of stern stuff. He rebounded from his first loss, a July 2024 10th round stoppage loss to Ekow Essuman, with a 10-round points victory over Chris Kongo last May that saw his record rise to 11-1 (4 KOs). Cooper, also 25, is a former English and Midlands Area champion.
There are two further 10-rounders set to take place at the Valiant Live. Olympian Luke McCormack, 4-0 (3 KOs), takes a step up – at least at professional level – against Kane Gardner, 18-5 (7 KOs), at junior welterweight. Up at middleweight, in a solid match, unbeaten Ben Fail, 10-0 (5 KOs), takes on the battle-tested Mason Cartwright, 23-4 (9 KOs).
“This is a cracking little show and a showcase for our up-and-coming talents,” said Queensberry promoter Frank Warren. “This is where prospects get to prove themselves as potential contenders and show us all that they belong on the major events moving forward. The British title fight between Owen Cooper and Constantin Ursu should be a real banger and it is one I am looking forward to greatly because these fights nearly always deliver the goods and Owen’s fights always do anyway.”
The rest of the undercard will be announced in coming weeks.
