Wearside boxer Pat McCormack books final spot at Commonwealth Games

Succeeding where his brother had failed earlier, Wearside boxer Pat McCormack will fight for a Commonwealth Games gold medal after winning through to the welterweight final in Australia.
Luke McCormack.Luke McCormack.
Luke McCormack.

Facing India’s Manoj Kumar, McCormack won on a unanimous points decision as all five judges awarded McCormack all three rounds.

McCormack’s superior movement characterised the first round as Kumar came out swinging but failed to land a number of wild hooks as the the English fighter counter-punched beautifully before becoming the aggressor.

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As the second round wore on the fight became a tear up with McCormack having the better of it but Kumar still landing some telling blows with jabs through the Birtley man’s defence.

The third saw both men visibly tire and McCormack ended up on the ropes on more than one occasion but came out swinging to finish the stronger.

He will face Northern Ireland’s Aidan Welsh on Saturday or the right to call themselves Commonwealth Games welterweight champion

Pat McCormack said after the fight: “It was a hard fight. I’ve beaten this lad before and I knew I had to give it everything,”

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“From the first bell he came out and gave it his all so all credit to him. He boxed a good fight but I hit with the cleaner punches and was the smarter boxer.

“I could see his big lefts coming from miles away. He was putting everything into those shots and I think they tired him out a little bit but I wasn’t taking any of them on the chin.

“I definitely wanted to get a win for my brother. He got beaten in a close fight today and I think he was a better boxer than that kid but the kid kept coming and outworked him.

“I was making sure Manoj didn’t outwork me.”

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