Lindsay’s power repels plucky Arthur
Martin Lindsay retained his British featherweight title at the Leigh Indoor Sports Centre on Friday night but had to withstand a spirited challenge from Jamie Arthur who absorbed some big shots from the Belfast man and just kept on coming. Arthur was floored twice in round two, shaken in the seventh, badly cut in round eleven and was hurt once more in the final round but deservedly managed to hear the final bell.
The judges’ scorecards of 119-108 (John Keane), 118-108 (Phil Edwards) and 117-110 (Mark Green) in Lindsay’s favour failed to acknowledge Arthur’s gutsy effort. I made Lindsay a four point winner but undoubtedly the Belfast man was a convincing winner.
Lindsay (8st 13 8 oz), making the first defence of his title which he won by stopping Paul Appleby, tried to hook off the jab in the opening round and seemed intent on having an early night.
This seemed a distinct possibility when he floored Arthur (8st 13 4 oz) with a left hook towards the end of round two. Jamie rose on unsteadily legs and was despatched to the canvas soon afterwards by another clubbing right hand from Lindsay. The writing looked on the wall for the plucky Welshman as he clambered to his feet but the bell came to his rescue which saved him from a certain stoppage.
Despite being down and almost out in the previous round, Jamie continued to meet fire-with-fire against the heavy-handed Lindsay in the third. Two left hooks, to head and body, was defiant stuff from Arthur and Lindsay could only retaliate with wild swings which Jamie easily evaded with his back to the ropes.
Martin continued to seek to land the big shots to end matters in the fourth and was again guilty of loading up. Arthur, having recovered from a torrid second session, enjoyed success with right hands and also found Lindsay’s body with some hooks. Arthur had put a lot of effort into fighting his way back into the contest after an impressive third and fourth round.
Lindsay regained control in round five though, landing two right hands and an uppercut through the middle which drew blood from the Welshman’s nose. Martin was starting to land with more frequency and his famed left hook sneaked through Arthur’s defence in the sixth as the Welshman was having to suck it up.
At times Lindsay is guilty of looking a little crude and one-paced but can undoubtedly crack with either hand if you are daft enough to trade with him, as Arthur foolishly did in the seventh. A right hand, followed by two left hooks wobbled Arthur which prompted referee Richie Davies to have a closer look as Jamie was going through a bad patch.
The Welshman got it together though in the eighth and shaded a quiet session as Lindsay took a breather. Mentally, Martin seemed to accept that no matter what he connected with that Arthur wasn’t going to budge. He seemed to be going through the motions in the ninth and tenth but still got home with some thudding shots to the body.
Both boxers traded in the centre of the ring at the start of the eleventh and surprisingly it was Lindsay who wanted to call off the assault which suggested Martin was feeling the pace. A clash of heads however, which resulted in Jamie being badly cut by his right eye, checked Arthur’s momentum.
Referee Davies, gave Arthur a wink as if to say, “The cut’s not bad enough for me to stop it, son,” and Jamie was deservedly able to negotiate the final round but seemed troubled by two left hooks from Lindsay in the closing stages.
Lindsay is now expected to challenge for the European title whilst Arthur, who vowed to retire if he lost, has some deep thinking to do.
