Martin Lindsay on a Mission To Build Career in 2012

By Shaun Brown

Martin Lindsay sat patiently waiting for fights to come along during 2011. Not adding to his 19 fight (one defeat) record last year has proved to be a blessing in disguise as he ticks over for his second outing on May 5 and the probability of a third in September.

The Irish featherweight, a former British champion, has been without a promotional contract since severing ties with Frank Maloney last year but now finds himself with a rather lucrative opportunity of working with Matchroom Promotions as they look to build on an ever-growing fan base across the sea.

No deal is in place between the two parties but promoter Eddie Hearn sees the 29-year-old as a valuable piece of his own "Fab four".

“Our plans are to build a big interest in Northern Ireland. We need flagship fighters and with [Paul] McCloskey, [Carl] Frampton, [Jamie] Conlan and Martin we’ll have that. There will be a big show featuring the four of them in Belfast in September. We’d like to have Martin in some sort of eliminator or title fight on that show,” said Hearn when speaking to BoxingScene.com.

“Being part of Matchroom will put Martin back into the mix and probably achieve more than he did in the first place.

“Our plan is to build a big interest in Northern Ireland. Frampton and McCloskey sell loads of tickets. We want to have bigger shows in bigger arenas – that’s the model we’re looking at.”

Lindsay knows himself that Irish boxing is experiencing something of a boom and he believes that the standard of his fighting countrymen means it can hold its head high.

“We’ve always had the fighters but it’s always been difficult to get the opportunities. The quality of fighters over here is good if not better than the U.K. Now we have big name fighters like Frampton and McCloskey that are on big shows in Belfast and as long as I keep winning my opportunity will come too.

“I’m open to fighting for the British or Commonwealth title. And I’d jump at the chance to fight the European champion [Alex Miskirtchian].

For now, Lindsay is content to shake off the rust which began with a six round points decision against Maurycy Gojko in March and hopes to continue the winning run against Londoner Mickey Coveney in another six rounder on a bumper night on May 5. The Kings Hall bill also sees an all-Irish Prizefighter middleweight tournament and Paul McCloksey taking on former world champion DeMarcus Corley in a 12 round international light welterweight contest.

Despite the prolonged 15-month absence, Lindsay has been in the gym constantly and has always been ready for that call, that opportunity to get himself back in the mix. All the while he’s been keeping an eye on the comings and goings in the featherweight division. And he was particularly surprised by the way current British champion Lee Selby despatched of John Simpson last November.

“John’s renowned for his toughness. I was a bit surprised because I thought he’d give Selby a test. I think everyone was surprised when he went down from that body shot. Only he knows how bad that punch was. Selby’s a good fighter but like I said I’d jump at that chance.”

With a return to the bear pit atmosphere of the Kings Hall looming, Lindsay has no fears about revisiting the scene of his only professional loss to date which came in 2010 to, ironically, Simpson.

“I’m not the kind of guy that thinks of things like that. I’ve fought in a lot of places so going back to the Kings doesn’t bother me. I’m there to do a job, nothing else.”

Twitter @shaun_brown