Singleton shrugs off setback ahead of shot at Lonsdale Belt

British title contender Shayne Singleton is refusing to let one bad night at the office overshadow 14 weeks of preparation for his shot at the Lonsdale Belt.
Photo Neil Cross
Boxer Shayne SingletonPhoto Neil Cross
Boxer Shayne Singleton
Photo Neil Cross Boxer Shayne Singleton

The 27-year-old suffered a set back at the weekend when Lithuanian southpaw Evaldas Korsakas held him to a stalemate in a four-round contest at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester.

The WBC International Silver champion commanded the contest but a knock down in the third round, inflicted by a left hook, altered the complexion of the judges’ scorecards ringside. In the end the Pendle welterweight, who had initially been penciled in to face Lithuanian foe Arturs Geikins, had to settle for his first professional draw.

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“I’ve just got to forget about that one and move on,” he said. “It’s been playing on my mind but I’ve got to accept what’s done is done. I’ve made another mistake, it was the same scenario as the Wayne Reed fight, only this time I’ve paid for it.

“As soon as my opponent was changed from an orthodox to a southpaw at the last minute my coach Karl Ince and my promoter Steve Wood both told me not to take the fight. But I am my own man and I wanted to do it. It didn’t go to plan, even though I believe that I won the fight. It should’ve been scored 38-37 in my favour.”

Singleton hadn’t fought a four-round contest since he beat Johnny Greaves by decision in December 2011 and he feels that was a factor in his performance. Singleton has been training for his November 25th showdown with Skeete and he accepts that he went in to the bout with that mentality.

“I didn’t perform like I should’ve done,” he said. “It took me a round or two to work him out and in a four-round fight you don’t have that time. It’s complicated because I’m a 12-round fighter. I like to break my way in to it, take my time, come on stronger in the latter rounds and that’s what I’ve been doing in my camp. It was hard to adjust.”

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However, the 147lb pugilist won’t allow his latest result to cause any detriment to what’s ahead at the Brentwood Centre when he faces the British champion.

“People will be looking at that result now,” he said. “They’ll be doubting me even more because I’m fighting Skeete off the back of a draw against a journeyman. This is a completely different fight though and I’m 100% confident that I’ll beat him.

“I won’t let one bad night take anything away from the 14 good weeks that we’ve had in the gym. I strongly believe that the fight plan that we’ve got in place will be enough to take Skeete’s title.

“I’m still just as confident. I’ve only had Skeete on my mind for the past few months because that’s what I’ve been building towards. Forget about everything else, my head is fully focused on my British title shot. What happened at the weekend will be long forgotten about when I take that belt.”

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Anybody wishing to purchase tickets for the show, which also features debutant Harley Benn, exciting prospect Anthony Yarde and Chris Eubank’s son Nathanael Wilson, can contact Shayne on 07857 476485.

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