Martin Lindsay may have been absent from the title picture since conceding his British featherweight title to John Simpson but the quality operator is now priming himself for a crack at Lee Selby, the man currently in possession of the coveted crown. Two non-title bouts have helped sharpen Lindsay’s tools and the 30-year-old is preparing for a big fight on September 22.

“I’m hoping that Matchroom will win the purse bids for Lee Selby and the British featherweight title,” he said. “The purse bids were meant to be on July 11 but they have been put back to August 8 because after the Haye-Chisora fight the Board put back all purse bids. I’ve started training and I can’t do anything else but prepare for the date.”

Lindsay won the British title back in April 2009 with a sixth round stoppage win over Scotland’s Paul Appleby in front of a passionate Ulster Hall crowd. Plagued throughout his career with spells of inactivity, Martin made one defence of the title when widely outpointing Welshman Jamie Arthur in the Leigh Indoor Sports Centre. It was clear from the venue that this popular Belfastman’s abilities outside of the ring as a red-hot ticket seller in his home city were not being utilised correctly. In December 2010 then-promoter Frank Maloney brought rugged contender John Simpson to the Northern capital and after a gruelling 12 rounds of back-and-forth honest endeavour from both combatants the Scotsman left town with the Lonsdale Belt strapped around his waist. That prize has since found its way to Barry’s Lee Selby and the always affable Lindsay holds respect for the reigning champion.

“I was impressed with Selby against Stephen Smith after he finished Smith with a good knockout, a smashing uppercut to finish it off, and he proved that it wasn’t a flash in the pan by beating John Simpson who is a tough character,” added Martin. “Obviously Selby carries a punch and is a good boxer too but I will not underestimate him or leave any stone unturned in preparing to go and do the business. I’ve had two fights already this year and I was hoping to get another eight-rounder in July or August but that didn’t happen and this opportunity has come up so at 30 years of age I’ll take on Selby now and do the 12 rounds.”

Martin holds a 19-1 (7 KOs) record and believes that the Selby fight may provide the platform to perform some fistic redemption for his sole loss. A big win could help cement a relationship with promotional big hitters Matchroom and finally propel the Immaculata man into European title class or beyond. Perhaps then Lindsay could begin to realise the sort of lofty ambition that Frank Maloney talked about at a snow covered Balmorel Hotel some 18 months ago at a pre-Simpson press conference.

“If I go out and beat Selby then the John Simpson fight is just a blip. Matchroom are the only ones on Sky so they can push you on and hopefully if Carl [Frampton] and [Paul] McCloskey both win then the shows will keep coming back here and if you have a belt then you can get on those big shows. Appleby might have now retired and Simpson has moved up to super-featherweight but I’m sure he could make feather if the right fight came along so those guys are out there for me but at the minute I’m fully focused on Lee Selby.”