Hayemaker – Lindsay set to step up
18 August 2008 – by Cormac Campbell
Ahead of his final eliminator clash with Derry Matthews for the British title, Belfast featherweight Martin Lindsay talks to irish-boxing.com….
There is no secret that promotional clout counts for much in boxing.
Having the right team in one’s corner can help secure television coverage, foster a fan base and get the right fights at the right time. On the flip side, a promoter is unlikely to invest time and money unless they believe their charge has the tools to make an impact on the pro circuit.
Undisputed cruiserweight champion and heavyweight contender David Haye is the latest active boxer to dip his toes into promotion and wasted little time in securing the services of Martin Lindsay 12-0 (4KO), as Belfast featherweight embarks on the most important period of his career.
A deal with Setanta Sports and the opportunity to fight on the undercards of one of the most important men in world boxing should propel Lindsays profile into the wider public domain and fast track him into title contention.
The Immaculata stylist has long been the best-kept secret in Irish boxing, but having cut his teeth in Canada and reigned as IBF youth champion, the 26-year-old told irish-boxing.com that his sights are now set on the domestic scene.
The Commonwealth and British title fights are in the pipeline, Im just leaving it up to my team to get them sorted for me, he said.
The two champions (Paul Appleby British and Paul Truscott Commonwealth) are undefeated but given the opportunity I would like to go in and see how far I can go. I dont see any reason why the opportunity shouldnt come soon.
Despite such confidence and burning ambition, Lindsay is adamant that he is not looking too far in to the future.
Everyone wants to fight for major titles, but you cant get ahead of yourself. So I am just taking it as it comes. I dont want to get carried away so I will keep taking it as one fight at a time but it is going well.
Despite having fought in Ireland, Britain, Italy and Canada in his 12 unbeaten fights to date, Lindsay remains something of a homebird, honing his skills at the same West Belfast gym he boxed from as an amateur.
I still train in Immaculata with ‘Nugget Nugent’. Ive never left there,” he says proudly. “I just went to Canada to fight.
Despite being surrounded by amateur boxers in the gym the pick of whom is Irish international Ryan Lindberg Lindsay says that his training regime is tailored for the requirements of the professional game.
He (Nugget) wouldnt do the same training with me as he would with the amateurs. It is a different game from the length and number of the rounds to the nature of the fights. He is preparing me well and we are winning the fights.
Lindsay is currently glued to his television set watching the Olympics an event he like all other amateurs – had aspirations of competing in back in 2004. It wasnt to be and a move into the pro ranks kicked off that December with a first-round stoppage of Welshman Dai Davies.
Despite disappointment at not gracing the biggest show on earth, Lindsay has no regrets.
Ive been watching a lot of the boxers in the Olympics and there have been a lot of cracking fights,” he enthused.
Watching them now, I would have loved to have competed. But thats just the way it goes. At the time it seemed like four years was such a long time but, looking back, it hasnt been. I dont regret anything.
