Saturday 21 January 2012

MB Exclusive: Booth being lined up for a return against Naz-like Galahad

Jason Booth is being lined up for a fight with an Ingle-trained fighter likened to a young Naseem Hamed.

The Nottingham super-bantamweight [pictured] lost his British title to Scott Quigg in October but hinted afterwards that he wanted to continue and is being penciled in to meet Kid Galahad, on the undercard of Kell Brook-Matthew Hatton, at the Sheffield Arena on March 17.

Qatar-born, Sheffield-based Galahad [real name Barry Awad] has looked a serious prospect since turning over in 2009 - registering ten wins in as many fights [four quickly] and handing stoppage defeats to usually-durable James Ancliff [in two] and ex-amateur star Paul Griffin, who was decked twice and rescued in just 91 seconds.

Injury has kept him out of action since October but the nimble feet, upper body movement and hard, fast punching from unusual angles that has become an Ingle trademark is there for to all see with the 21-year-old, who's increasing power has become evident with back-to-back quick wins.

Though the smooth-boxing Tony Harris-trained stylist, 36-8 (15), has seen fresher days he has performed at the highest level and is only 16 months removed from pushing Steve Molitor to a majority decision in an IBF world title challenge. In truth, had Booth had more pop in his gloves then he'd have won.

But he has lost his last two, albeit in European title chance against Kiko Martinez in Spain [in ten] and against unbeaten Quigg [retired at the end of the seventh], and the cold weather has firmly arrived in the winter of a 16-year-old paid career that has seen him unsuccessfully challenge for the Continental belt on four occasions.

Yet he sees untested Galahad as a perfect fight to begin his boxing resurrection - and it wouldn't be the first time the East Midlander rose from the ashes to once more become a force. "Talk of me retiring after my last fight was wrong," said the always-enigmatic and animated 34-year-old from the Strelley area of the Robin Hood city. 

"I know I've still got plenty to offer - and i think that my last two defeats were due to a combination of exceptional talent in front of me but, more importantly, Martinez and Quigg being naturally too big for me.

"I've been wrote off before and I've read articles saying i haven't got it anymore but i'm going to shock people again," added the Jimmy Gill-managed former three-weight Commonwealth and two-weight British champion.

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