James Cook has challeneged Ted Bami to prove his worth after Bradley Pryce defeat

James Cook has challenged Ted Bami to prove he still has the hunger for boxing after he suffered his third successive defeat on Friday night when he was knocked out by Bradley Pryce, writes Matt Diner.

The Clapton-trained fighter beat the Welshman eight years ago, he gained revenge after a right hook in the second round floored the 32-year-old.

Cook was in the former European light-welterweight champion's corner at York Hall and issued an ultimatum to his fighter after the bout.

"I phoned him the next day after he calmed down and I told him he should quit, because your health is the most important thing," he said.

"He told me he wanted to carry on and I said lets see what happens. I told him he has to work one month solid with me and we'll take it from there. He has to show me he still wants it."

There is a lot of hard work for Bami if wants a last crack at British or European honours, but where does he go from here? Who does he take on?

"It's a good question, because I'm not sure who he could fight next," Cook said.

"There is no point him taking on a nobody. It would be great if a British champ sees Ted and thinks he can beat him and can have an easy ride against him. It would be a great fight and he could spring a surprise."

Sadly that did not happen on Friday and what made it all the more frustrating for Cook and Bami, is the amount of hard work the fighter put in beforehand.

"We were training six days and it was the hardest I had seen him work," Cook said.

"His mind was geared up and he was ready for the fight, I was very confident beforehand."

Bami made a decent start and both fighters probably shared the spoils in the opening round, with both working their jabs to good effect.

The second also seemed to be going well for Bami, who opened up a bit more and landed some heavy blows, but with the second ticking away it all went wrong.

Pryce caught him with a right hook to the body and then followed up with a right to the head which floored Bami.

"He fought well to begin with and i was happy, but he lost concentration," Cook said.

"I told him not to lean back on the ropes because that is what Pryce is looking for, but he did and he was caught.

"He went down and jumped straight back up before realising he should have stayed down. It was his pride which got in the way and he should have stayed down longer. That said I thought he could have carried on and the referee (Jeff Hinds) was too quick to call it off.

"I don't usually crucify refs because they have a hyard job to do, but I felt he made a mistake there.