OASIS classic ‘Hello’ echoes the sentiments of unbeaten boxer Shayne Singleton who declared - “It’s good to be back”.
The 22-year-old will return to the ring following a five-month injury lay-off on the undercard of Ronnie Heffron’s British welterweight title eliminator against Liam Smith at the Sports Centre in Oldham on Friday, May 18th.
“I’m very happy to be back,” declared Shayne. “I’ve felt absolutely great recently; my fitness levels have felt perfect and I’m feeling strong. I’ve been sprinting round that track and flipping tractor tyres at my coach Karl Ince’s farm in Preston.
“I’m really happy to be getting back in to the ring. I’ve missed it. After the break I’ve had it feels like I’m starting my career all over again. It’s definitely made me want it more.”
The Pain goes in to his 12th fight a hero after recently saving a man’s life in a car crash. After travelling home from training in Bolton along the M65, Singleton and two friends saw the victim’s vehicle flip over in to an embankment on the opposite side of the motorway before noticing an explosion of smoke. The trio raced across six lanes of the motorway to the driver’s aid and, risking their own safety, pulled him from the wreck.
“It was very spur of the moment, I didn’t even think that I was risking my life. We managed to get to the car and I got down on my knees to try and look through the window to see how many people were in the car,” he said.
“There was a guy upside down with his seatbelt on, I asked him if he was hurt and if anyone else was in the car. Luckily there wasn’t.
“He said he was stuck but that he was okay and I just thought ‘he needs to get out’. I know that they say you shouldn’t move someone but I had noticed that it was a petrol car and thought it could explode at any moment as it was beginning to smoke.”
The BoxAcademy show, promoted by Queensberry Promotions in association with Steve Wood’s VIP Promotions, will feature a catalogue of the region’s most promising unbeaten prospects, including Callum Johnson, Anthony Smith and Jack Arnfield. BoxAcademy, which will be televised live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Channel 456 and Virgin channel 546), is a monthly show that will promote the best, young prospects from around the country in tough, action-packed fights, to help them develop to championship level at a more urgent rate.
“It’s a highly rated venue and there’ll be some big fights on the card,” said Shayne. “Anything that Frank Warren or Frank Maloney get involved in becomes much better so it will be a great show.”
Singleton is currently without an opponent as he targets the 10st. mark for the show. The cut off point for that weight loss is Tuesday and it’s there, while with nutritionist Margaret Duckworth at Colne’s Intershape Gym, that he will decide whether to fight at lightweight or light welterweight.
“Once I’ve had my fat percentage and weight checked out next week they’ll find me an opponent,” Shayne said. “I will be fighting someone who is at a better level than what I’ve been fighting at so it’s a big step.”
Tickets for Shayne’s 12th professional contest are priced at £30 and can be purchased by calling him on 07857 476485. A coach will also be travelling to Oldham from the Venue in Colne, which will cost £6 return.