Conrad Cummings (boxer)

{{short description|British boxer}}

{{use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox boxer

| name = Conrad Cummings

| image =

| image_size =

| image_border =

| alt =

| caption =

| real_name =

| nickname = Dynamite

| weight = Middleweight

| height = 5 ft 11 in

| reach =

| nationality =

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| style = Orthodox

| boxrec = 676846

| total = 22

| wins = 17

| KO = 7

| losses = 4

| draws = 1

| no contests =

| website =

| medaltemplates =

}}

Conrad Cummings is a professional boxer from Northern Ireland who held the WBO European middleweight title twice between 2017 and 2019.

Professional career

= Early career =

Cummings made his professional debut on 22 February 2014, scoring a four-round points decision (PTS) victory over Andrejs Loginovs at the York Hall in London.{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Conrad Cummings vs. Andrejs Loginovs|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/685351/1865658|access-date=30 June 2020|website=boxrec.com}}

After compiling a record of 7–0 (3 KOs) he faced Alfredo Meli for the vacant Celtic middleweight title on 20 November 2015 at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Cummings scored a knockdown within the first minute of the fight, Meli appeared unhurt and made it back to his feet by the referee's count of three. Cummings received multiple warnings throughout the fight for low blows and pushing down on Meli's head before both fighters were deducted one point for excessive holding in the ninth round. After then ten rounds came to an end the bout was scored a split draw, with the Celtic title remaining vacant. One judge scored the bout 95–92 in favour of Cummings, the second scored it 96–93 to Meli, while the third judge scored it even at 94–94.{{Cite web|last=Sherry|first=Diarmuid|date=21 November 2015|title=Cummings and Meli Fight To A Thrilling Draw|url=https://www.irish-boxing.com/cummings-meli-fight-thriling-draw/|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Irish Boxing|language=en-US}}

Following three consecutive wins, one by stoppage, Cummings faced Ronny Mittag for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental middleweight title on 18 November 2016 at the Wembley Arena in London. In what was described as a controversial decision,{{Cite web|last=McKendry|first=Adam|date=2 Feb 2017|title=Revenge on Cummings' mind as rematch with Mittag confirmed|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/conrad-cummings-shot-revenge-against-12546181|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Belfast Live|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=13 February 2017|title=Conrad Cummings has revenge on his mind in Ronny Mittag rematch|url=https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/conrad-cummings-has-revenge-on-his-mind-in-ronny-mittag-rematch/|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Boxing News Online|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Watters|first=Andy|date=21 March 2017|title=Conrad Cummings ready for action in title rumble with Gogi Knezevic|url=http://www.irishnews.com/sport/boxing/2017/03/21/news/conrad-cummings-ready-for-action-in-title-rumble-with-gogi-knezevic-970334/|access-date=30 June 2020|website=The Irish News|language=en}} Cummings suffered his first professional defeat, losing by split decision over ten rounds. One judge scored the bout 96–94 in favour of Cummings while the other two scored it 96–94 to Mittag.{{Cite news|last=Kelly|first=David|date=18 November 2016|title=Coalisland boxer Conrad Cummings suffers controversial first defeat at the hands of Ronny Mittag, while Belfast fighter Paddy Gallagher loses to Tamuka Mucha|language=en-GB|work=Belfast Telegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/boxing/coalisland-boxer-conrad-cummings-suffers-controversial-first-defeat-at-the-hands-of-ronny-mittag-while-belfast-fighter-paddy-gallagher-loses-to-tamuka-mucha-35227885.html|access-date=30 June 2020|issn=0307-1235}}

= WBO European title =

The pair were set to face each other in an immediate rematch scheduled for 11 March 2017 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, featuring on the undercard of a British cruiserweight title fight between Craig Kennedy and Stephen Simmons. However, the fight was cancelled one week before the event after Simmons – who was a replacement for Kennedy's original opponent, Matty Askin – had pulled out of the headline bout due to suffering an injury.{{Cite web|last=Jay|first=Phil|date=3 March 2017|title=Simmons out, Kennedy March 11 title shot postponed|url=https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2017/03/03/simmons-out-kennedy-march-11-title-shot-postponed/|access-date=30 June 2020|website=World Boxing News}} As a result of the cancellation, Mittag withdrew from the bout with Cummings.{{Cite web|last=Foster|first=Elliot|date=24 March 2017|title=Conrad Cummings Stops Gogi Knezevic, Picks Up WBO Regional|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/conrad-cummings-stops-gogi-knezevic-picks-up-wbo-regional--114926|access-date=30 June 2020|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us}} Days after the date of the cancelled event it was announced a new fight had been scheduled for 24 March 2017 against Gogi Knezevic for the vacant WBO European middleweight title, taking place at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland.{{Cite web|last=Foster|first=Elliot|date=13 March 2017|title=Conrad Cummings vs. Gogi Knezevic Added To Taylor-Joubert|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/conrad-cummings-vs-gogi-knezevic-added-taylor-joubert--114546|access-date=30 June 2020|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us}} Cummings scored a knockdown in the first round before ending the fight in the third to capture his first professional title via knockout (KO).{{Cite news|last=Kelly|first=David|date=25 March 2017|title=Cummings hammers out first title success and targets bigger prizes|language=en-GB|work=belfasttelegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/boxing/cummings-hammers-out-first-title-success-and-targets-bigger-prizes-35564254.html|access-date=30 June 2020|issn=0307-1235}}

The first defence of his newly won WBO regional title was scheduled to take place on 29 July 2017 against Robert Swierzbinski at the SSE Arena in Belfast, as part of the undercard for Carl Frampton vs. Andrés Gutiérrez.{{Cite web|last=Fullerton|first=Gareth|date=21 June 2017|title=Cummings to fight on undercard of Frampton v Gutierrez at SSE Arena|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/conrad-cummings-fight-undercard-carl-13220243|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Belfast Live|language=en}} However, Gutiérrez withdrew from the contest on 28 July after he slipped in the bath and suffered facial injuries, resulting in the cancellation of the entire event.{{Cite news|date=28 July 2017|title=Carl Frampton fight off after Andres Gutierrez is injured slipping in shower|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/40759863|access-date=1 July 2020}} Following the cancellation the WBO stripped Cummings of his European title for failing defend it.{{Cite web|last=Stapleton|first=Jonny|date=3 December 2018|title=Conrad Cummings promising improvements ahead of Belfast headline fight|url=https://www.irish-boxing.com/conrad-cummings-promising-improvements-ahead-of-belfast-headline-fight/|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Irish Boxing|language=en-US}}

== Cummings vs. Luke Keeler ==

Following the cancellation and subsequent loss of his title, Cummings scored two wins in six-round bouts – Norbert Szekeres by PTS in December{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Conrad Cummings vs. Norbert Szekeres|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/760681/2207084|access-date=1 July 2020|website=boxrec.com}} and Michael Mora by technical knockout (TKO) in February 2018{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Conrad Cummings vs. Michael Mora|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/763181/2218939|access-date=1 July 2020|website=boxrec.com}} – before getting the chance to regain the vacant WBO European title against Luke Keeler. The bout took place on 21 April 2018 at the SSE Arena in Belfast as part of the undercard for Carl Frampton vs. Nonito Donaire. Cummings suffered the second defeat of his professional career, losing by unanimous decision (UD) with the judges' scorecards reading 97–93, 98–92, and 99–91.{{Cite web|last=Williamson|first=Chris|date=21 April 2018|title=Frampton vs. Donaire - LIVE Results From Belfast|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/frampton-vs-donaire-live-results-from-belfast--127392|access-date=1 July 2020|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us}}

== Regaining the WBO European title ==

He bounced back from defeat with two wins in six-round bouts – Nicky Jenman by PTS in August{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Conrad Cummings vs. Nicky Jenman|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/769039/2265473|access-date=1 July 2020|website=boxrec.com}} and Jan Balog by TKO in October{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Conrad Cummings vs. Jan Balog|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/774495/2275690|access-date=1 July 2020|website=boxrec.com}} – before challenging for the vacant WBO European title for the third time in his career. Keeler was scheduled to defend the title against Brian Rose but was forced to pull out of the bout and vacate the title due to a back injury, resulting in Cummings stepping in as a replacement for the vacant title with the bout being scheduled for 7 December at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast.{{Cite web|date=9 November 2018|title=Conrad Cummings vs. Brian Rose For WBO Euro, Keeler is Out|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/conrad-cummings-vs-brian-rose-wbo-euro-keeler-out--133566|access-date=1 July 2020|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us}} Rose was forced to withdraw from the bout after suffering a shoulder injury in an interim fight one month prior{{Cite web|date=3 December 2018|title=Blackpool's Brian Rose pulls out of European title fight with Conrad Cummings due to injury|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/boxing/blackpools-brian-rose-pulls-out-european-title-fight-conrad-cummings-due-injury-197340|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Blackpool Gazette|language=en}} and was replaced by Ferenc Berki. Cummings regained the WBO European title via UD, with the judges' scorecards reading 99–90, 98–92, and 95–94.{{Cite news|last=Mohan|first=David|date=8 December 2018|title=Conrad Cummings ends year on a high with WBO Euro title joy|language=en-GB|work=Belfast Telegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/boxing/conrad-cummings-ends-year-on-a-high-with-wbo-euro-title-joy-37606104.html|access-date=1 July 2020|issn=0307-1235}}

== Cummings vs. Luke Keeler II ==

His first defence came in a rematch with Keeler, taking place on 29 March 2019 at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.{{Cite web|last=Fullerton|first=Gareth|date=15 January 2019|title=Conrad Cummings vs Luke Keeler rematch has been announced|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/boxing/conrad-cummings-vs-luke-keeler-15683697|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Belfast Live|language=en}} After suffering a cut to his left eye in the third round,{{Cite news|date=30 March 2019|title=Luke Keeler beats Conrad Cummings to reclaim WBO European middleweight belt|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/47756558|access-date=1 July 2020}} Cummings went on to lose by a wide-margin UD with one judge scoring the bout 99–91 and the other two scoring it 98–92.{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Conrad Cummings vs. Luke Keeler II|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/782619/2322489|access-date=1 July 2020|website=boxrec.com}}

== Fourth WBO European title shot ==

Following his third professional defeat, Cummings bounced back with a six-round PTS victory against Adam Grabiec in October.{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Robert|date=12 October 2019|title=Cummings shows his class to return to winning ways|language=en-GB|work=Belfast Telegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/boxing/cummings-shows-his-class-to-return-to-winning-ways-38586383.html|access-date=1 July 2020|issn=0307-1235}} After Keeler vacated the WBO European title in pursuit of a world title shot,{{Cite web|date=19 January 2020|title=On the verge of big things - Danny Dignum Interview ⋆ Boxing News 24|url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2020/01/on-the-verge-of-big-things-danny-dignum-interview/|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Boxing News 24|language=en-US}} Cummings secures a fourth attempt at the vacant title, this time against Danny Dignum on 9 November 2019 at the York Hall. In a fight which saw Cummings receive a point deduction in the second round for repeated use of the elbow and suffer a cut in the fourth from an accidental clash of heads, he went on to suffer the fourth defeat of his career, the first by stoppage, losing via fifth-round TKO after Dignum landed a solid left hook which left Cummings on unsteady legs, prompting referee Howard Foster to step in and call a halt to the contest.{{Cite web|last=Fullerton|first=Gareth|date=9 November 2019|title=Conrad Cummings stopped by Danny Dignum at York Hall|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/boxing/conrad-cummings-stopped-danny-dignum-17231356|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Belfast Live|language=en}}

Professional boxing record

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=1

|nc=

|ko-wins=7

|ko-losses=1

|dec-wins=10

|dec-losses=3

|dq-wins=

|dq-losses=

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round, time

!Date

!Location

!Notes

22

|{{no2}}Loss

|17–4–1

|align=left|Danny Dignum

|TKO

|5 (10), {{small|0:21}}

|9 Nov 2019

|align=left|{{small|York Hall, London, England}}

|align=left|{{small|For vacant WBO European middleweight title}}

21

|{{yes2}}Win

|17–3–1

|align=left|Adam Grabiec

|PTS

|6

|11 Oct 2019

|align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

20

|{{no2}}Loss

|16–3–1

|align=left|Luke Keeler

|UD

|10

|29 Mar 2019

|align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|align=left|{{small|Lost WBO European middleweight title}}

19

|{{yes2}}Win

|16–2–1

|align=left|Ferenc Berki

|UD

|10

|7 Dec 2018

|align=left|{{small|Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBO European middleweight title}}

18

|{{yes2}}Win

|15–2–1

|align=left|Jan Balog

|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}

|1 (6), {{small|2:21}}

|5 Oct 2018

|align=left|{{small|Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

17

|{{yes2}}Win

|14–2–1

|align=left|Nicky Jenman

|PTS

|6

|18 Aug 2018

|align=left|{{small|Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

16

|{{no2}}Loss

|13–2–1

|align=left|Luke Keeler

|UD

|10

|21 Apr 2018

|align=left|{{small|SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|align=left|{{small|For vacant WBO European middleweight title}}

15

|{{yes2}}Win

|13–1–1

|align=left|Michael Mora

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|2:47}}

|10 Feb 2018

|align=left|{{small|Devenish Sports Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

14

|{{yes2}}Win

|12–1–1

|align=left|Norbert Szekeres

|PTS

|6

|1 Dec 2017

|align=left|{{small|Devenish Sports Complex, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

13

|{{yes2}}Win

|11–1–1

|align=left|Gogi Knezevic

|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}

|3 (12), {{small|2:10}}

|24 Mar 2017

|align=left|{{small|Meadowbank Sports Center, Edinburgh, Scotland}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBO European middleweight title}}

12

|{{no2}}Loss

|10–1–1

|align=left|Ronny Mittag

|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}

|10

|18 Nov 2016

|align=left|{{small|Wembley Arena, London, England}}

|align=left|{{small|For vacant IBF Inter-Continental middleweight title}}

11

|{{yes2}}Win

|10–0–1

|align=left|Dante Moore

|UD

|6

|30 Jul 2016

|align=left|{{small|Barclays Center, New York City, New York, US}}

|

10

|{{yes2}}Win

|9–0–1

|align=left|Frankie Borg

|TKO

|6 (6), {{small|1:19}}

|14 May 2016

|align=left|{{small|Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, Wales}}

|

9

|{{yes2}}Win

|8–0–1

|align=left|Victor Garcia

|PTS

|6

|27 Feb 2016

|align=left|{{small|Manchester Arena, Manchester, England}}

|

8

|{{draw}}Draw

|7–0–1

|align=left|Alfredo Meli

|{{abbr|SD|Split draw}}

|10

|20 Nov 2015

|align=left|{{small|Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|align=left|{{small|For vacant Celtic middleweight title}}

7

|{{yes2}}Win

|7–0

|align=left|Oscar Riojas

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|1:26}}

|18 Jul 2015

|align=left|{{small|Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, US}}

|

6

|{{yes2}}Win

|6–0

|align=left|Roberto Palenzuela

|PTS

|6

|28 Feb 2015

|align=left|{{small|Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

5

|{{yes2}}Win

|5–0

|align=left|Norbert Szekeres

|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}

|6

|29 Nov 2014

|align=left|{{small|Falconer Centeret, Frederiksberg, Denmark}}

|

4

|{{yes2}}Win

|4–0

|align=left|Robert Talarek

|PTS

|6

|6 Sep 2014

|align=left|{{small|Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

3

|{{yes2}}Win

|3–0

|align=left|Lajos Munkacsi

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|0:55}}

|20 Jun 2014

|align=left|{{small|Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

2

|{{yes2}}Win

|2–0

|align=left|Zahari Mutafchiev

|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}

|3 (6), {{small|0:01}}

|4 Apr 2014

|align=left|{{small|Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

|

1

|{{yes2}}Win

|1–0

|align=left|Andrejs Loginovs

|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}

|4

|22 Feb 2014

|align=left|{{small|York Hall, London, England}}

|

References