Bethnal Green’s Jamie ‘No Pain No Gain’ Arlain (5-0) writes a monthly column exclusive to BBN.
Here’s what the talented British Challenge Belt Lightweight Champion had to say…
“I was training hard for the Jimmy Cooper fight in March but then when I got the Southern Area title shot on April 22nd, I stopped training and took a week off.
I still kept the sparring up with Martin J Ward as I was helping him get ready for his fight with Maxi Hughes at the end of this month.
It’s tough sparring with Martin as he has been fight sharp for a while. He's the British and WBC International super-featherweight champion, unbeaten in 18, so it’s been really great for me.
I pulled out of the fight with Cooper to concentrate solely on the title shot and I saw on Twitter that he was gutted about the fight being cancelled, but I hope he understands that it’s such a big opportunity for me.
It’s the oldest prize in British boxing, steeped in history and prestige, so you don’t turn down the right to fight for it. Maybe the fight could happen down the line and hopefully for a title instead.
Now that my opponent has changed from fighting a taller opponent where I had to learn to come forward more and get inside, which I enjoyed doing, the fight with Michael Devine will be more of an even playing field for me.
He’s pulled out of his scheduled March 18th fight, which I think makes our fight better because we both fought last on December 3rd and have had the same time to prepare.
The tickets will be here next week so get in touch with me on Twitter if you want to come.
There’s so many people that haven’t seen me box for a while that will be coming and lots of people I haven’t seen for ages that are saying they want six or more tickets each! I reckon I’ll sell over 100 tickets at this rate, hopefully.
It’s the Southern Area title so more people want to come out in support and get behind me, which is great!
I watched the Haye v Bellew fight at the weekend and I think that’s Haye finished now. He looked like he was trying to force the stoppage from the start and didn’t get near to hurting Bellew.
He said he wants more fights but I think he should retire now as he keeps getting injured due to his age, and he should go into the promotions side and just call it a day now.
He had an extraordinary career that he can be proud of.”
For tickets to the next fight, please contact 07528 663 629
Follow Jamie Arlain on Twitter @arlain_jamie88
Jamie Arlain would like to thank his sponsors Pro-Dec and Nu-Maintenance and Arches Café and Agent Tim Rickson