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Pressure is off for Conrad Cummings following changes


Conrad Cummings [12(5)-1(0)-1] is looking forward to an exciting 2018 after the pressure has lifted off his shoulders.

The Coalisland middleweight returned to the ring for the first time since March on Friday last and outpointed Norbert Szekeres for the second time in his career.

‘Mr. Dynamite’ was more than content with how he performed at on the Ginley Promotions bill at the Devenish, but one of a number of new MTK signings seems more happy with how things are shaping up than his twelfth career win.

The 26 year old endured a somewhat frustrating 2017 having only fought once before the December 1st victory and having gone through managerial and coaching changes.

Cummings is now happy to look forward and claims the pressure has been lifted as he heads into what promises to be an exciting 2018.

“I just felt I haven’t got pressure now. I don’t know why. Maybe I was putting that on myself or it was put on me and at that point you’re helping no one.”

“I think there is big future to work with, the future is bright and 2018 is going to be exciting. I am just looking forward to it,” Cummings said after the fight on Friday.

Cummings has followed former Cyclone Promotions stablemate Carl Frampton to trainer Jamie Moore and is also being advised by management outfit MTK Global. The Tyrone man believes the change has had a positive effect.

Analysing his six-round shutout points win he added that “it’s just what I needed. Eight or nine months out of the ring, lots of changes not only with my career, but my life, I have a new team and I am really enjoying myself.’

“For the first time in a long time I thought to myself while on the pads ‘I am really enjoying this’.”

Having outpointed Hungarian Szekeres on the road in just his third fight Cummings would have liked to have registered a stoppage win in Belfast, but felt against a survival specialist that was always going to be hard.

The middleweight also indicated that the inactivity may have played a part as did his desire to perfectly carry out the gameplan handed to him by former Irish, British, Commonwealth, and European champion Moore.

“I would have liked to get the stoppage, but listen, even though I have been in the gym, I haven’t been in the ring and under the lights in some time. I think I boxed well which sometimes I neglect. A couple of time I felt not a lot is happening here, but I stuck to what I was told, I stuck to the gameplan we worked on.”

“I jabbed to the head jabbed to the body and touch head go to the body. Everything we worked on I did in the ring and I am happy with that. A couple of times he was going, but it’s very hard to get him out of there when his main objective is to survive. Onwards and upwards.”

Before he turned over, Cummings earned a name for himself as one of the most exciting amateur boxers to watch. His seek and destroy attitude always won him fans, especially in the more pro-styled WSB. However, under Shane McGuigan he attempted to refine his skills and approach and he is still working on maintaining that balance under Moore.

“There are things to work on but I think that is as good as I could be going into next year. It was a good six rounds after being out for 10 months and I think I looked sharp. I was relaxed which I never am.”

“I think if I let go a flurry I would have got him out of there, but you’re in danger of going back to your old ways so I am just getting that balance. That balance of boxing and putting the punches together.”

“Okay, a couple of more combos and I’d have got him out of there, but all in all I feel good. ”

dpg

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