Hartlepool and boxing go together hand in hand. Or perhaps that should read glove?
The town, synonymous with the sport, both amateur and professional, has a new pro, who is about to climb through the ropes for the first time.
Meet Jason Cumming. The 20-year-old boxed for Hartlepool Elite Boxing Academy as an amateur game and the gym remains his base as he starts a career in the pro ranks on Saturday, February 3.
The featherweight will have a Teesside derby against Middlesbrough’s Caine Singh, a relatively new pro himself, at Eston Leisure Centre for the second North-East promotion of Mark ‘Mo’ Prior and Dave Westgarth.
It is the start of a new chapter not just for Cumming, but for the team behind him.
He will be coached by Peter Cope and Alan Temple, who are best known by their work at the old Gus Robinson Developments gym. Cope, of course, coached Temple to two ABA titles at Boys Welfare ABC and as a pro too.
Wayne McCarte, secretary of HEBA, will be in Cumming’s corner on Saturday night and Team JC (pictured above, messrs Temple, Cope and McCarte) are excited to get started.
“He’s one of the nicest, most honest kids you could ever wish to meet and it’s a privilege to train him,” said Cope, who guided Nigel Wright to the English light-welterweight title success and coached the gifted Bradley Saunders and many, many more.
“He has a lot of support, from sponsors to supporters and has sold over 100 tickets for Saturday.
“Jason has talent and his fitness, determination and will-to-win are all second to none.
“He is a fit lad – he can run half-marathons in 1-17. He’s so fit he could do 12 rounds now, but he’ll just be doing the four on Saturday.
“How good will he be? I honestly don’t know. I think he’s only had 19 bouts as an amateur and they have been spread out over quite a long time.
“He’s never had a proper run at it and once he’s got his debut out of the way we’ll be looking to keep him busy, fighting once every two to three months.
“He’s only 20, has a lot of great attributes to be a good boxer, but he needs experience.
“Jason is like a sponge – he takes in everything we tell him, and we’ve seen how he’s developed.
“His engine is incredible. His defence and his head-movement have improved, and we’re excited to see him fight.
“But we are in no rush with him.”
Singh, a Middlesbrough lad, who has lost on both of his pro appearances, looks a difficult assignment for a boxer on debut.
Cope says Cumming, despite a long gap between his last amateur contest and his first pro date, will be ready.
“Jason has not boxed in a while, probably not since the back end of the summer, but he has done loads of sparring,” said the coach.
Jason appears ready and now it’s time for Hartlepool to unleash its new pro.
Words: Roy Kelly
