By Elliot Foster

Conrad Cummings bounced back from his first career defeat in some style.

The Coalisland middleweight, who lost a controversial decision against Ronny Mittag for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title last October, was originally set to face the German in a rematch on March 11.

But after the show on which the rematch was scheduled was canned, Mittag withdrew, leaving Cummings with an opponent dilemma.

In stepped Gogi Knezevic, the 37-year-old Austrian, and in came the vacant WBO European crown.

Nothing in the build-up to the fight fazed Cummings, who moved to 11-1-1 with five early with a third-round stoppage at the Meadowbank Arena in Edinburgh, Scotland.

It was a calm and controlled performance from the 25-year-old, as part of the undercard to Josh Taylor’s Commonwealth super-lightweight title defence against South Africa’s Warren Joubert, exclusively live on Spike TV.

And it was one in which there was a first-round knockdown, a dominant second round and a peach of a left hook, coming off the back foot which saw the end of the fight called by the referee Phil Edwards after two minutes and 10 seconds of the third round.

Knezevic, who continues his losing streak when stepping outside of his home country, failed to beat the count, slipping to 31-7-1 with 13 KOs, leaving tears of joy in the eyes of Cummings’ loved ones and elation among the in-ring team.

Earlier in the card, Nick Webb remained undefeated with a six-round points victory over Andre Bunga.

And Connor Law moved into double figures with a victory over Francis Tchoffo.