A Hartlepool boxer being mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Hunter is a big deal. It’s like a Glasgow comedian being compared to Kevin Bridges or an Essex snooker player being mentioned alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Now, before any boxing aficionados start screaming at their computer screen or smart phone ‘Jason Cumming is no Michael Hunter’, trainer Peter Cope is not saying he is.
The respected veteran coach merely believes his 22-year-old Hartlepool prospect has got that all-action, fans-on-their-feet approach that made Hunter such a favourite with supporters.
Cumming is just under a couple of weeks away from making his ring return having been sidelined by hand trouble since last summer.
He will be chasing his sixth win as a professional on April 11 at Rainton Arena, where victory number five occurred back in July of last year. ‘The Engine’ will box Mexico’s Yahir Morales over six rounds on the undercard of the Prizefighter-style tournament being staged at the Houghton venue by new promotion company Boss Boxing.
“I do believe Jason can have a massive future in the sport,” said Cope. “Below the championship level, I think Peterlee boxers Alex Farrell is the best around here.
“But for those boxers with less than eight fights I think Jason is as good a prospect as anyone in the North-East.
“From a coach’s perspective he is a joy to train – he listens and learns and cuts no corners.
“Fans love him because he is so exciting to watch.
“I didn’t train Michael Hunter as a professional, but I coached him as an amateur and obviously followed his career closely.
“Jason reminds me so much of Michael.”
For those who never got to watch Hunter, you missed a treat.
A two-weight ABA champion with Boys Welfare, where Cope was his coach and mentor, Hunter enjoyed an incredible professional career under the guidance of Hartlepool fight figures Neil Fannan and Dave Garside, ending with an outstanding record of 30-2-1, with 13 of his wins coming inside the distance.
Michael was the British, Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion, making an unsuccessful crack at the IBF world title, losing to the excellent Canadian talent Steve Molitor at the Borough Hall in 2006.
Of 10 major championship contests, Hunter was beaten only twice.
Cumming does not boast an amateur pedigree like Hunter, but two decades on from Michael’s ferocious assaults on opponents, Jason is carrying on the Poolie fighting mantra.
He has reeled off five straight wins as a professional, including two inside the distance.
His career was really beginning to gather momentum before injury misfortune struck and he suffered damaged knuckle ligaments.
“It’s great to have him back,” said Cope, who trains Jason at Hartlepool Elite Boxing Academy alongside Alan Temple and Wayne McCarte.
“Eight months is a long time to be out, especially given he’d been on a brilliant run of form.
“Jason is the fittest and most dedicated boxer I’ve ever worked with so he has kept himself right in terms of fitness.
“But he has only been able to start punching again last month.
“Despite being out for such a long period, he was sparring well straight away, so we can’t wait to see him doing out in the ring on April 11.”
Given he had won five times in 15 months has the lengthy absence damaged his enthusiasm?
“Absolutely not,” said Cope, who for many years was the head coach as the Gus Robinson Developments gym in Hartlepool. “If anything, it has made Jason more determined to be truthful.
“He was really building some momentum when the injury came along.
“Jason’s only 22 and not 23 until the back end of the year, so him being out has not been a major problem.
“But it would be nice to get him moving, starting with this fight.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jason Corbett/ Mindenwood Photography
