Conrad Cummings calls for Luke Keeler rematch following under-performance

Conrad Cummings [13(6)-2(0)-1] has called for Luke Keeler to be a boxing gentleman and give him an instant rematch.

The Irish middles competed in an eagerly anticipated derby dust-up on the Frampton-Donaire undercard and the Dubliner came out on top, overcoming two badly cut eyes to decisively defeat the Tyrone man 98-92, 97-93 and 99-91.

An entertaining, dramatic bout, the ten-round title WBO European title clash was the pick of the undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena and saw Keeler upset the pre-fight odds.

The victory could prove massive for Keeler [14(5)-2(1)-1] and feasibly open a pathway to more big name fights but a hurting Cummings has called for the Pete Taylor-trained fighter to look back before he looks forward and give him an immediate return.

“I want the Keeler fight again,” the 27-year-old told Belfast Live.

“I don’t want an easy fight or a fight against a journeyman [next]. I want to get back in there in a meaningful fight.”

Keeler will argue he won by a wide margin and, with the WBO European rankings title around his waist can now target fights that will move him toward world level. However, his recent foe seems keen to test Keeler’s ‘Mr Nice Guy’ approach, stressing he gave the Irish champion a big chance “he maybe didn’t deserve” and, by right, deserves a favour in return.

“I would love the rematch,” Cummings continued, explaining that “I gave Luke Keeler a chance when he maybe didn’t deserve it. I was willing to give him his shot, and I think now I deserve a chance to earn revenge.”

“Of course, Luke can do whatever he wants now. But from one boxing gentleman to another, I think we should go at it again.”

The Jamie Moore-trained fighter has been left wounded by the result but takes solace in the fact that he feels he threw it away rather than being outclassed.

Cummings claims he knows where he went wrong and as a result will learn from his mistakes and improve moving forward.

“It was a bitter pill to swallow, and I have nobody to blame but myself,” Cummings added.

“Well done to Luke and his team. The better man won on the night. I didn’t freeze on the night, I simply under-performed. And the good thing is, I know what I did wrong.”

“I would be more worried if I was sitting here searching for answers. If I didn’t know what mistakes I made. But I know what I need to do.”

“It would also be worse if I just accepted the defeat. It hurt me, I am bitterly disappointed, even now a month after the fight. And that makes me doubly determined to bounce back.”