Shakiel Thompson stays patient after January fight collapse
Sheffield's Shakiel Thompson had to go easy on the Christmas pud and New Year festivies.
He was preparing to take part in the biggest fight of his boxing career under the banner of Queensberry Promotions on January 24.
But the collapse of the main fight on the card at Manchester’s Co-op Live has put paid to that for the time being.
With the postponement of Moses Itauma v Jermaine Franklin, Shak's ten-rounder with Brad Pauls must now wait until March 28, at the same venue.
It is hugely frustrating for any boxer to have the rug pulled after observing diets and gruelling training sessions.
But the unbeaten Manor Boxing Academy fighter tried to take it on the chin.
He posted online: "A lot of hard work and sacrifices were made, family time missed, but this is just part of the game.
"New date, same result. The work never stops. Love for all your support - tickets will be valid for March even with the January date on."
The Handsworth family man, 28, says his ultimate objective is to follow Dalton Smith's lead and become a world champion at middleweight.
So far, he has 15 wins and 11 knockouts to his name, his last fight being a second-round knockout of Grant Dennis at the Park Community Arena, Sheffield, on September 27.
The postponement means he will have been out of action for four months and 30 days by the time he takes on Pauls.
Pauls says he is "absolutely devastated" by the forced rescheduling.
The 'Newquay Bomb' said he'd grafted and sacrificed for months and had sold tickets for the Frank Warren event. His fans had booked transport and hotels for the show, he said.
"That's life sometimes, it is just another test from God", he reasoned. "I am so gutted, but the show goes on."
Meanwhile, Barnsley's Callum Simpson, 29, is pursuing an immediate rematch with Darlington's Troy Williamson, with it likely being held May 2.
Williamson as stopped Simpson in the 10th round at Leeds Arena, in September, with the Reds' fan losing his British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight titles.
His promoter Ben Shalom said: "It's a huge rematch, Callum’s career is on the line and he knows that. He has made a few changes, he will announce them soon, but it’s a huge night for both of them."