Cornish out to bounce back from Joshua loss

GARY CORNISH, the Inverness heavyweight, begins the healing process this evening when he returns to the ring at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom after an absence of six months. Great things were expected of the 28-year-old, his manager Tommy Gilmour believing he was was capable of delivering championship belts in a weight division previously unconquered by a Scot.

But Cornish’s decision to accept a fight with Anthony Joshua, the decorated London Olympian, last September for the vacant Commonwealth title – against his manager’s wishes – proved a step too far in the boxer’s development.

While Cornish had acquired something of a reputation on the back of an unbroken run of 21 victories as a professional, he had not campaigned previously at such a level. Gilmour’s worst fears were realised when Joshua blew him away in just 97 seconds.

Gilmour resisted any temptation to say “I told you so”, preferring to praise Cornish for his bravery in picking himself up off the canvas to at least try to make a go of it at London’s O2 Arena.

But the Glasgow promoter suspects Cornish will be more inclined to follow his advice in future, provided, of course, the 6ft 7ins fighter does not encounter any fresh problems when he confronts Kamil Sokolowski, from Poland.

“Gary cannot afford any mistakes whatsoever,” Gilmour said: “He has to win and win well. But I certainly haven’t lost faith in him. I believe he is capable of bouncing back and so does he. If all goes well against Sokolowski, he’ll have another couple of fights before he starts chasing titles again.”

The boxers’ respective records would suggest the fight should be a formality for Cornish, given that he has won 21 of his 22 bouts while his opponent has won only one of his six contests.

But Gilmour said: “Sokolowski went the distance with Sam Sexton before losing on points. Sexton has fought for the British and Commonwealth titles, so that’s a good benchmark.”

The bill also features local featherweight Darren Traynor, 29, who suffered a first career defeat in 12 in losing to Ryan Walsh in a British title bout in London in January.