SWINDON SUPER-MIDDEWEIGHT JAMIE COX was literally flying the flag for Donegal at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old defended his WBO European title as he halted Hungarian Ferenc Albert in 68 seconds – Cox’s third first round victory of the calendar year.
Afterwards, Cox draped himself in the Donegal flag in celebration, much to the approval of the Irish crowd in attendance, which included his family members from the north-west.
Cousin Roisin and her husband Darren Armstrong were among those in attendance, as were Jamie’s aunt and uncle Cath and Denis Dunnion.
Cox, who recently attended Roisin and Darren’s wedding on his last trip to Donegal, is the grandson of Kevin Cox from Rockhill, Ballintra, who is now based in Southampton, and the son of the late Anthony John Cox.
Three generations of the Cox family – father, the late Anthony John, son Jamie and grandfather Kevin, who is from Ballintra with the Donegal flag a few years back
“Half my family are Irish, my father was Irish,” Cox said after his bout on Saturday.
“He couldn’t be here today and went out and got that win in the first round and he would’ve love it. He seen it from the heavens.”
Saturday’s win means the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the light-heavyweight division could be in line for a shot at WBA champion Fedor Chudinov.
“The only way I’m going to get these top fights is if I’m mandatory and that is what we will keep working towards,” Cox added. “We are going to keep it simple and keep moving towards that world title.”
Here’s Cox in action last Saturday night …
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=wBYa6qNQU-U
