FORMER adversaries Alfredo Meli and Conrad Cummings have announced upcoming fights.
The pair fought out an engrossing draw for the Irish middleweight title late last year and, while a rematch was rumoured, they have gone their separate ways. Meli looks certain to have a Commonwealth middleweight title eliminator with Sheffield’s Sam Sheedy.
The Commonwealth Boxing Council has confirmed Sheedy has already signed his contract to fight on April 30 and Belfast’s Meli is expected to follow suit before the weekend.
“We can’t confirm the CBC sanction until all the formalities have been completed, but it all looks good right now,” said CBC secretary Simon Black on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Cummings will box on the undercard of the Lee Haskins versus Ivan Morales IBF world bantamweight title showdown at Cardiff’s brand new Ice Arena on Saturday, May 14, live on Channel 5. Coalisland middleweight Cummings (8-0-1) faces Cardiff’s former Welsh middleweight champion Frankie Borg in an intriguing contest.
Scotland’s 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Josh Taylor, Cardiff’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Nathan Thorley is also set to feature on the undercard. Edinburgh talent Taylor has been in explosive form since turning professional with manager Barry McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions in July 2015.
The Shane McGuigan-trained southpaw has raced to 4-0 as a professional with all of his victories coming by way of knockout in the first two rounds. Taylor (25) will make his terrestrial television debut live on free-to-air channel Spike (Freeview, BT TV, Talk Talk channel 31; FREESAT channel 141; Sky channel 160) in a six-round international super-lightweight contest against France’s durable Jean Moraiti.
“I’m delighted to be boxing on May 14 on another world title undercard,” said Taylor.
“I’ve boxed on three world title bills so far in my pro career and its brilliant to have the chance to perform on the big stage again. It’s also fantastic to be making my terrestrial TV debut and I can’t wait to put on a show for all of the fans who will be tuning in to Spike on May 14.”
Cardiff’s talented former amateur star Nathan Thorley makes his hometown debut on the show and the undefeated 22-year-old will be looking to impress on the big stage.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games light-heavyweight gold medalist is undefeated in four professional contests since turning professional with manager Chris Sanigar in March last year.
