Pushed back
10 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell
The date of Martin Lindsays British featherweight title defence against Jamie Arthur has been switched to March 19 and the Belfastman remains hopeful that the venue will also be changed.
Lindsay was originally slated to face Arthur in Newport, Wales on February 5 after the Welshmans promoter Frank Maloney won purse bids but this date has now been pushed back to St Patricks weekend.
“Im still hopeful that it could be here,” Lindsay told irish-boxing.com
“No venue has been named yet but it would be great if it was in Belfast.”
Since splitting with Hayemaker Promotions following the demise of Setanta Sports last summer, Lindsay has become one of the most sought after free agents on the market. But despite the advances of many of the industrys biggest players, the University Business graduate is not making any rash decisions in relation to his future.
“I have met a lot of promoters in the last four or five weeks so will hopefully get everything wrapped up in the next couple of weeks and forget about that side of things and focus on the ring,” he said.
“I just want to get the promotional thing sorted out. Obviously Frank Maloney is doing the next fight but if I sign a deal with a promoter I can plan out the next year. Saying that I cant look any further than the next fight.”
Training has already begun for March 19, and is going well despite the big freeze.
“Its going well, apart from the gym being about 12!” he joked.
“You are training harder just to stay warm. The weather does have a bit of an effect on your roadwork but there are a few treadmills in the gym so you can still go in and tick away on them.
“There were plenty of people in the gym as a few of them are getting ready for the Irish Seniors and so it was a good atmosphere in the gym and it wasnt as if I was working on my own. But now I have my date I will start picking things up.
“Ive only been in two ten rounders and one 12 rounder and for them Ive taken about 10 to 12 weeks for them. I have 11 weeks now and Im fit. I didnt really stop since the fight in Magherafelt. I have been in the gym four or five nights a week, so am in good shape.
“I could have been ready for February 5, but wont step my training up until my coach tells me otherwise. He will see me peaking more than I would myself.”
