Shaun Cummins The Man behind the Name First off Shaun Cummins earned the alias ‘The Guvnor’ via ring wars with some of the best British fighters of his era and it is widely believed he should have become Champion of the World and a household name. Many people in the fight game including Managers, Promoters and thousands of boxing fans were entertained by the never say die character of a genuine fighting mans fighters who laid his manhood on the line every time Shaun stepped into the famous squared ring. Shaun was introduced to boxing at the age of 6 by his father ‘Big Bad Johnny Cummins’ who had spent most of his life behind bars for crimes such as armed robbery. We have been privileged enough to read some snippets of Shaun’s Autobiography and we can attest to ‘The Guvnor’s’ torturous childhood and teenage years at the hands of his father, who would take Shaun on a park at the back of their house where he crew up and have Shaun fight anyone who would fight him, including youths many years his senior. Obviously Shaun won win a few but in the main he would take a hiding but would have to duke it out, else he would receive a far worse bashing by his father. We find it remarkable that Shaun not only survived the mental and physical beatings he was subjected to but unbelievably he still loved his father when most would have simply ran away. As an amateur boxer Shaun showed great promise in winning his first 12 bouts before being robbed in the quarter finale of the Schoolboy Championships. A year later Shaun was back but eventually exited the Championships via a controversial majority decision in a Midlands Area title bout to the eventual National Schoolboy titlist winner Sean Cooper of Dudley. The Belgrave Amateur Boxing Club who Shaun represented sent out a challenge to Cooper who gladly accepted the rematch. After a tough bout Shaun’s hand was raised and the Local Paper headline read: Leicester Tiger shows class. Shaun would also go on to beat future Olympic Bronze Medallist and WBC World Champion Richie Woodhall of Telfold. Shaun turned professional at age 19 under the tutelage of Welsh legend Mr Eddie Thomas a former British and Commonwealth Champion who had steered Ken Buchannan and Howard Winston to World Championship honours and believed he would repeat that with his latest signing. Shaun has great respect for the late Mr Thomas but said he found it a horrible nightmare having to work down Eddie’s coal mine through the day and then travel 20 miles each night to a boxing gym The Guvnor would deck and beat former ABA Champion Tony Velinor at Bethnal Green, then ABA finalist Brian Robinson by 5th round KO at the London Arena, get robbed by ½ a point in a British Title Eliminator to eventual British Light- middleweight Champion Wally Swift Jnr. After this defeat ‘The Guvnor’ would remain unbeaten for 4 years. Shaun would then beat tough pro Paul Wesley who had been the distance with many quality fighters Steven Collins, Robert McCracken with a devastating left hook knockout that actually lifted Wesley off his feet in the 1st round such was the power Shaun passed. Another 1st round KO would follow this time Frank Maloney’s Northern Area Champion and ABA finalist Terry Morrill. Another Northern Champion namely Jason ‘Pit Bull’ Rowe would be on the receiving end of a powerful right hand knocking him out in round 2. Then Welshman John Kaighin would become the first of three opponents to suffer a broken jaw courtesy of a booming right hand. The Guvnor would then fight ‘The Viking’ Steve Foster a future commonwealth Champion at 12 days notice for the vacant WBA Inter-continental Light-Middleweight Title at the GMEX Manchester. Shaun had to shed nearly a stone in weight but would go on and defeat ‘The Viking’ by split decision in a tough battle. Former Commonwealth Champion Mickey ‘Ice Man’ Hughes would suffer a broken Jaw and be knocked out in round 11 and retire. After this fight Shaun would moved back to his home town of Leicester and slipped down the path that would see his dedication completely evaporate along with his skills, dedication and Iron Will. The Guvnor fought the undefeated WBC and European Champion Agostino Cardamone in San Remo Italy in a fight so brutal that both fighters were taken to hospital. Cardamone had never been on the canvas in his 22 unbeaten fights but would be dumped on his rear when tagged with a short left hook. Many say Shaun won the fight and the headlines read ‘One Punch from World Title’ Shaun would win two more fight before his unsuccessful British Middleweight title challenge V Neville Brown. Shaun boxed dreadful and he didn’t seem to be the fighter he had been. This would prove to be Shaun’s last professional fight. In 2004 Shaun was involved in a serious road traffic accident then almost cost him his life and although he survived Shaun is now paralysed from the Chest down for life! However despite being told that he will be a permanent wheelchair user Shaun as vowed he will walk again for his son Duran Frazier Cummins and the many emails and letters he as received from boxing fans. Shaun is also currently working with an author in regards to his Autobiography. We and all Shaun boxing fans wish him well in his goals and look forward to reading ‘The Guvnors’ autobiography Good luck Shaun
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