The latter months of 2005 were frustrating times for current European featherweight champion Nicky Cook, as the reoccurrence of his old hand injury came back to haunt him. A damaged right metacarpal forced him out of a voluntary defence against Yuri Voronin of the Ukraine back in November on the “Hells Kitchen” show.

Yesterday, at a press conference held at West Ham United FC, Jess Harding of UK Presents & Matchroom, announced that the “Hells Kitchen” show was back on at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre Dagenham, on Friday 24th of February with Cook and Voronin headlining the event.

Harding went on to add that since the postponement of the November show, the WBC have made Cook the Number one challenger for the WBC World featherweight title and stated:

“If I knew then what I know now, I would not have put Nicky (Cook) up for this fight. However, we are contracted to take this fight with Voronin and to be fair, if Nicky is going to be a World Champion he needs to come through opponents such as Voronin”.

Harding went on to explain the current situation with the WBC, and stated that Cook was supposed to fight the American Robert Guerrero for a final eliminator, but subsequently Guerrero has recently been beaten he and may now have to fight Guerrero's victor, Gamaliel Diaz of Mexico in a final eliminator, or as the number one challenger fight the Victor of WBC interim champion Humberto Soto of Mexico and WBC featherweight champion Injin Chi of Korea who are due to fight in April, with the winner fighting Diaz or Cook within 90 days which could leave Cook a possible World title showdown in the summer of 2006.

I asked Cook whether he sees this fight with Voronin as added pressure now he has been installed as the WBC's number one challenger and if his hand injury has caused him any concern he said:

“This fight is another stepping stone, and as Jess (Harding) said I need to be beating guys like Yuri Voronin if I am going to become World Champion, the hand has been okay I got a silicone glove done which helps to protect my right hand and gives protection to the knuckle and metacarpal, I put a bandage on and then the glove and the boxing glove, and yeah the hand has caused me no trouble”.

Cook went on to add that he has been frustrated with the amount of hand injuries he has suffered during his career, and is adamant that without the injuries he would definitely be a World champion by now.

“If I have to fight Chi then I will fight Chi he's a strong lad but he's got a big enough head to be hit, but first I have to get past Voronin, he's only been beaten a few times never been stopped, I saw his fight with Bernard Dunne, he can go the distance and I have to be prepared to go the full twelve rounds with him but look impressive at the same time” Cook said.

Cook went on to add that the recent introduction to Kevin Mitchell to the Paul Cook stable has been a great help with preparation as they are both of similar height and weight and Kevin's added quality as boxer has pushed Nicky to new boundaries.