From enemy to inspiration – Luke Keeler motivating Conrad Cummings ahead of big fight return

Luke Keeler has gone from Conrad Cummings [17(7)-3(0)-1] defeater to the Coalisland middleweight’s inspiration.

The Tyrone fighter claims the Ballyfermot middle, who twice beat him in WBO European ranking title fights in nigh on his muse going into what is a big fight for the 28-year-old in London tomorrow.

Cummings, who faces unbeaten Danny Dignum for the vacant title on a #MTKFightNight at the York Hall, has noted how his former rival has suffered defeat to the same person twice, but is now in talks with regard to fighting Demetrius Andrade for the WBA world middleweight title.

‘Mr Dynamite’ is hoping he can bounce back in similar fashion and believes victory in London tomorrow could put him back on the world title path.

“I’m taking positives off the losses to Keeler. He lost to the same guy twice and now he’s on the cusp of a world title, so that’s my motivation. I need to say a big thanks to MTK Global for providing these opportunities to me, and a win here would open a lot of doors for me,” Cummings revealed.

“I’m very excited to be back in a huge fight. This is a chance to become three time WBO European champion and get me back in the WBO world rankings.”

Roll on tomorrow night, I’m ready! pic.twitter.com/LPH0aNimgu

— Conrad Cummings (@ChampCummings) November 8, 2019

Cummings, who has been open about personal suffering over the last year, is just one fight back into rebuild both career and mental wise, but is adamant a return to domestic level action has come at the perfect time.

He admits 27-year-old southpaw Dignum represents a challenge, but is confident he has done the work needed to pass the test.

“Dignum will be a hard fight, he’s undefeated and I’m coming to his home territory, but I’ve prepared extremely well and learned from the past and I’ll use that as a positive.

“I know he’s tall and a southpaw and has boxed for England as an amateur, so I’ve trained for 10 hard rounds if it goes that long, I have a plan and I’ll execute it to bring that title home.

“This is perfect for me, I fought at Ulster Hall last month and won to get the rust off, and it was a solid win under my new team. I stayed in the gym straight away and now it’s good to have momentum going into this fight,” he adds before revealing the York Hall has provided happy memories for him previously.

“This is my third time boxing at York Hall after fighting there in my professional debut and in the World Series of Boxing too. I had two good wins and I’m planning on making it a hat-trick.”

Dignum vs. Cummings is just one of a host of title fights and world-level collisions on a stacked bill.

Michael McKinson and fellow world-ranked welterweight Luis Alberto Veron meet in a crucial clash, Chantelle Cameron and Anahi Ester Sanchez collide in a WBC world title final eliminator, Liam Walsh and Maxi Hughes contest the WBO European lightweight crown and Daniel Egbunike has his chance to claim Southern Area super-lightweight title honours against Billy Allington.