Lindsay ready for Simpson showdown

21 September 2009 – By Cormac Campbell

British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay is prepared to take on Commonwealth kingpin John Simpson – without a warm-up contest.

Purse bids for the mouthwatering clash are due on October 14, and despite having been out of the ring since April, the unbeaten Belfastman has told irish-boxing.com that such matters are part and parcel of the sport.

“Preferably Id like a warm up,” he said. “But if I have to go straight in then thats what Id do. I went straight in against (Paul) Appleby after seven months off. Im fresh enough and know I can do 12 rounds.”

However, the 27-year-old university graduate has admitted that a role on the undercard of David Hayes WBA heavyweight title fight in November, ahead of a December clash with Scotsman Simpson, would be his favoured outcome.

“It would be brilliant to be on the undercard of that just because it is a World heavyweight title fight,” he enthused.

“I would look forward to an opportunity like that and if it came would take it.

“Either way, Im hopeful that Ill get something sorted out in the next couple of weeks so I will have something to focus on.”

Focus is something Lindsay will need in abundance if he is to best the dangerous Simpson, who recently defeated Paul Truscott for the second time.

“Im easy enough to fight John,” he admitted. “I dont know much about it or where and when it might be at this stage – I leave that sort of thing up to my manager John Rooney. But the fight makes sense. The two of us are champions and it is a fight that the public would like to see.

“Id give him plenty of respect, he is a tough, tough fighter but you have to test yourself against these fellas to show how good you can be. I know what Im capable of, and think I have the winnings of the fight.”

Lindsay certainly gave a taster of how good he is at the Ulster Hall in April when pummelling the much heralded Appleby into submission in six painful rounds. Despite the heated atmosphere on the night, the Immaculata clubman has nothing but good things to say about his former opponent.

“Fair play to Paul, he came over to Belfast when he probably didnt have to. He is still very young and Ive no doubt he will bounce back from it.”