Conrad Cummings Goes For IBF Regional on Groves-Gutknecht

By Elliot Foster

Conrad Cummings has been handed the details of his first title fight.

It was announced last week that the Coalisland middleweight would be in action for a bauble when he next takes to the ring.

Cummings was confirmed as an addition to the undercard of George Groves’ WBA International super-middleweight title defence against Eduard Gutknecht on November 18, exclusively live on terrestrial TV broadcaster Channel 5.

And it has now been revealed that the 25-year-old, who was last in action Stateside on July 30, will come up against Ronny Mittag of Germany (28-2-1, 14 KOs) at Wembley’s SSE Arena.

The pair will do battle with the vacant IBF Inter-Continental strap at stake –– and their showdown will be screened exclusively live on Spike TV, which traditionally airs the undercard clashes to Channel 5 cards.

It represents a big step up in class for Ulster native Cummings (10-0-1, 4 KOs), who is managed by Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan and trained by 2016 BBBofC Trainer of the Year Shane McGuigan.

But he believes he is in with a bona fide contender, in the shape of 28-year-old Mittag, next month and is eager to dominate on the way to picking up his first belt.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to showcase my skills in front of a large television audience on Spike and to pick up my first belt as a professional,” Cummings said.

“It’s great to be on a big show at the SSE Arena, Wembley where so many historic fights have taken place over the years.

“I want to win that IBF Inter-Continental belt, it’s the same belt that my stablemate [and current Super WBA featherweight champion] Carl Frampton won on his way up and I want to emulate Carl by winning the title in style.

“My opponent is a genuine contender but nothing is going to stop me getting the win.”