Conrad Cummings calls for Commonwealth chance
Conrad Cummings [15(7)-2(0)-1] scored his second win in six weeks on Friday night as he rehabilitates from his loss to Luke Keeler and the Coalisland middleweight now feels ready to go for another belt.
The Tyrone puncher won on the Belfast BoxNation card at the Titanic Exhibition Centre at the weekend and has his sights set on the Commonwealth title.
A designated swing bout, Cummings ended up fighting after the main event on Friday and duly dispatched Czech journeyman Jan Balog in the first round with a bodyshot.
Reflecting on his performance, ‘Mr. Dynamite’ noted how “I’d been working on that specific bodyshot with Jamie [Moore, coach] where I close the gap, touch upstairs, and hit the body, and that’s exactly what I did.”
“I hit him and I knew he wasn’t getting up. He wasn’t a world beater but, listen, I did the job and onwards and upwards.”
“It was about keeping busy, getting out, being clinical – which I was – doing what we worked on in the gym, staying relaxed, staying focused, being professional.”
“Okay, it wasn’t a world beater but I’ve seen me fighting guys of that level before and making hard work of it, so to speak. It was a good win and onwards and upwards.”
Cummings now wants a return to title level and is hopeful for a shot at the rainbow belt.
The 27-year-old turned pro with Cyclone back in December 2013, missing out on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow the following Summer – where Derry’s Conor Coyle won bronze and Liverpool’s Anthony Fowler won bronze.
Cummings now wants to win the pro equivalent and explained how “I would love to fight for the Commonwealth belt because I was on the team, I was selected to box for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games the year I turned pro, six months prior, so I’d like to fulfill that now as a professional.”
The belt is currently vacant having been stripped from Liam Cameron.
England’s Elliot Matthews will fight for the vacant title at the York Hall in London versus Nigerian Rasheed Abolaji meaning Cummings would most likely have to wait until the new year before he can contest the strap.
In the meantime, an appearance at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd on a bill headlined by training partner Carl Frampton – who challenges IBF featherweight champ Josh Warrington – looks likely for Cummings.
