Shawn Cummings

SUCCESSIVE injuries in his last two bouts has the fitness of Shawn Cummings in question ahead of the Busta US Open World Continental Team Fighting Championship, set for Orlando, Florida, July 2-4.

Cummings, who hails from the camp of Victor Townsend's Shai Tai Kickboxing, is slated to fight in the team event alongside other Jamaica combined martial-arts team members hunting a third straight hold on the title.

However, Cummings, who has had a relatively average season, was seriously injured while competing in Cuba in the first leg of the Busta Pan Am series.

He was further dogged by problems during the final leg of the individual division of the Red Tiger Open in May 30 in Philadelphia when he had to be retired due to injury.

Before leaving for Philadelphia, Cummings was also beaten by Shiah Shukura in the semi-finals of the heavyweight division at the Busta Jamaica Taekwondo Open.

illegal blow

Despite Cummings' woes, he went on to win his bout during the team event against the United States during the Philadelphia leg of the Busta Pan Am Series, helping to hand Jamaica the title.

Cummings coming up trumps in team fighting has earned the backing of team captain Jason McKay and coach Claude Chin, who have selected him as the fourth man out in the six-man squad.

"What happened in Cuba and in the individual bout in Philadelphia have no bearing on his ability," said McKay in defence of his heavyweight.

"He just got a hard and illegal blow in Cuba. Losing to Shukura at the Open was partly due to Shukura enjoying his best season ever. What's important from Philadelphia was that he won his team match, which is what will count in Orlando," he added.

"With this in mind, I believe he is ready for top-level competition," McKay pointed out.

The World Continental is expected to have the highest standard of team event in the world, with top teams from the various continents facing off with Jamaica looking to defend its title against Vietnam, Germany, Argentina and hosts United States.

Some of the greatest fighters in the world are expected, including Argentina's Jonathan Batista, who is considered one of the strongest heavies in International Taekwondo Federation.