Boxing: Conrad Cummings v Luke Keeler (tonight, Ulster Hall, show streamed live on IFL TV's YouTube channel from 5pm)
THE time for talking is over as Conrad Cummings bids to avenge his painful defeat to Luke Keeler when they face off again at the Ulster Hall tonight.
Dubliner Keeler was a convincing winner when the pair went toe-to-toe on the undercard of Carl Frampton’s clash with Nonito Donaire in April 2018, dominating an out-of-sorts Cummings en route to a unanimous decision win.
That left Keeler with the WBO European belt but, after eye injuries sustained in the Cummings bout eventually forced him to vacate, it is the Coalisland man who now holds that strap after defeating Ferenc Berki at the Titanic Exhibition Centre back in December.
Keeler is determined to leave Belfast with that title again, and Cummings will have to seriously up his performance level from that previous encounter.
The 27-year-old, while admitting the better man had won, has suggested all was not well before their first fight and insists fans at the Ulster Hall will see a different fighter tonight.
Probably the most intriguing bout elsewhere on tonight’s stacked card is Sean McComb’s super-lightweight showdown with the experienced Troy James.
‘Public Nuisance’ McComb hasn’t put a foot wrong since turning pro less than a year ago, winning all five of his fights to date and looking impressive along the way.
His last outing, against Zoltan Szabo, was seen as a major step up in class considering the Hungarian had previously stopped tough Dubliner Stephen Ormond back in 2016.
However, McComb handled him with ease, and believes he is more than ready to mix it with somebody like James – even at such short notice after his original opponent pulled out.
“You have to be ready for these kind of phone calls,” he said.
“I’ve been training like I was fighting a big name anyway so I’m excited to see what he’s going to bring to the table and I’m excited for the step up.
“I’m sure he’ll come and have a go. I saw him against the likes of Luke Campbell and Liam Walsh. He’s boxed some big names. I know he’s going to come forward and I think that’ll suit me down to the ground.
“The more pressure he puts on me, the easier it’s going to be for me, it’s as simple as that. I’m not fussed on stopping him. If I do, all well and good but my ability will send the biggest statement.
“This is the perfect fight to show how skilful I am. Watching my boxing ability will be more appealing to people than seeing me knock him out.”
Unbeaten Steven Ward provides chief support in a cruiserweight showdown against Croatia’s Josip Perkovic, while Tyrone McKenna takes on Oscar Amador.
Speculation has been mounting in recent days that McKenna could be edging closer to an eagerly-anticipated grudge match with brash Londoner Ohara Davies, and an expected victory tonight would keep him on course.
Derry super-feather Tyrone McCullagh was due to be on the bill but confirmed yesterday that he had withdrawn “due to a very big fight being announced for myself that’s just around the corner”.
“Me and my team didn’t want to risk getting cut or injured tomorrow night - stay tuned,” he wrote on Facebook
Rio Olympian Steven Donnelly takes on English veteran Chris Jenkinson while Padraig McCrory looks to move to 7-0 against Santos Medrano.
Making his debut tonight is talented young Omagh featherweight Callum Bradley when he takes on tough Nicaraguan Jose Aguilar.
The 21-year-old is a classy operator and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the pro ranks.
TONIGHT’S BILL
Super-featherweight (4x3): Callum Bradley (debut) v Jose Aguilar (16-57-5)
Light-heavyweight (4x3): Taylor McGoldrick (2-0-0) v Gianni Antoh (0-2-0)
Super-middleweight (6x3): Alfredo Meli (15-0-1) v Achilles Szabo (24-22-0)
Middleweight (6x3): Steven Donnelly (4-0-0) v Chris Jenkinson (11-65-3)
Welterweight (6x3): Sean McComb (5-0-0) v Troy James (21-7-1)
Light-heavyweight (6x3): Padraig McCrory (6-0-0) v Santos Medrano (10-61-5)
Lightweight (6x3): Gary Cully (7-0-0) v Brayan Mairena (10-7-1)
Cruiserweight (6x3): Steve Collins jr (13-2-1) v Arturs Kulikauskis (18-39-7)
Welterweight (6x3): Tyrone McKenna (17-1-1) v Oscar Amador (10-15-0)
Cruiserweight (8x3): Steven Ward (9-0-0) v Josip Perkovic (4-7-1)
Middleweight (10x3, for WBO European title): Conrad Cummings (16-2-1) v Luke Keeler (15-2-1)
