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Trevor McCumby is Top Rank’s latest hot prospect

Fighters Network
14
Feb

McCumby-weighin_Applerose

Rising light heavyweight prospect Trevor McCumby has quietly gone about serving his boxing apprenticeship, so far going an impressive 13-0 with 10 stoppages. While he's still in the infancy of his career, it's the way he's taken care of business so far that has impressed.

McCumby kicks off his 2014 campaign Saturday at Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., when he meets Chris Eppley on the off-TV portion of a Unimas card promoted by Top Rank.

"I’m really excited for this fight, I want to show my talents, I want to showcase my power, speed," McCumby told RingTV.com. "I want to show people that I’m going to be one to look out for.”



His manager Cameron Dunkin, who has handled in excess of 30 world champions including the likes of Diego Corrales, Kelly Pavlik, Timothy Bradley and Nonito Donaire, purrs at the mere mention of his young charge. 

"Oh Trevor is a phenom, he’s been terrific so far, he’s still just a baby but every time I see him he gets better, he has a real shot at being a top top guy in this sport," Dunkin said.

McCumby lives in Glendale, Arizona but was born and raised in Chicago. He started boxing at age seven.

“My brother and I started really young, my dad got me into boxing when I was seven, we actually lied about my age saying I was eight and got me my first amateur fight," he said. 

He enjoyed a good amateur career, amassing a record of 138-11, winning several junior titles and tournaments.

Along the way the youngster impressively beat two of the Chicago Golden Gloves champions in the open division Armando Pina and Junior Wright.
 
While at the under 19 championships he added to those accolades by beating then world No. 2 Jerry Odom.
 
McCumby then elected to turn pro with Dunkin in 2010.
 
"I was 17 at the time, I was hanging out with my buddies and my dad had always told me their will be people who will try to contact you." said McCumby. "I didn’t know who he was. My father spoke with him and the rest is history. I‘m blessed to be with such an amazing manager."
 
McCumby flew to Las Vegas initially signing pro forms with the now defunct TKO Promotions and training with highly regarded Kenny Adams for a short spell. 
 
"Kenny Adams helped me with my punching power, in my last semester of senior year I moved to Las Vegas, he taught me a lot," McCumby said. "In my first week he didn’t even let me put a pair of gloves on, he had me shadow box, it was frustrating but it really helped me out."
 
The youngster successfully turned pro in Oct. 2010 fighting at the Nokia Center in downtown Los Angeles where he stopped Sharieff Hayes in three rounds.

"At that fight I was only 18, I really didn’t know what was going on, I had just got out of the amateur’s and didn’t know what to expect." McCumby reflected. "Doug Fischer [who did commentary for the television broadcast] was [in the dressing room] and he was asking me these questions and I didn’t understand everything, it was so different for me. The number one thing about my pro debut was the whole atmosphere, it was crazy, it was a cool experience but I learned a lot from reporters and media, it was a big learning experience for me.”
 
“Boxing is a science, there’s a formula for making a guy get to the top and there’s an equation for doing it. I’m so proud to be with my team, with Cameron Dunkin, with Top Rank.” said McCumby.
 
At times McCumby has had spells of inactivity in his pro career, however it's not something that unduly bothers him.
 
“In a way I think Cameron has done a really good job that way, he knows that I’m young and have time to mature," McCumby said. "I think that’s one thing I need to do is mature when it’s time to fight. In the gym I do things, I’m such a good boxer, I need to transition into the ring, be able to use my jab more, box more, that’s something I have the ability to do, I’m very athletic, in a way I need to transition into that, get it going and then everything will fall into place. I’ve been working on that in sparring."
 
McCumby trains with brothers Alan and Wayne Viers in Arizona though often joins up with Robert Garcia in Oxnard two weeks prior to a fight.
 
Since turning pro the now 21-year-old has raised more than a few eyebrows with his impressive speed and skills.

“Robert (Garcia) has said I have great punching power," he said. 'I have this ability to turn my punches over very well."
 
As well as his vaunted power, he has other attributes that he feels he hasn't been able to show off yet.
 
"I do have hand speed I haven’t showed it, I’m a great boxer I haven't shown that," Mccumby said. I’ve shown a brawler style and I need to showcase my boxing ability more.”
 
McCumby knows he has a long way to go, but he's confident he'll get there.
 
“I’m doing the best I can, I’ll say it now, I will be a world champion," he said. "I still have a lot of time to grow and mature.”
 
 
 
Photo / Al Applerose-Top Rank
 
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him @AnsonWainwright

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