Illness may have put paid to Martin Welsh’s hopes of fighting in Kent this month but it has done nothing to derail his plans.

A skin virus left Welsh sidelined on doctors’ orders but trainer Terry Coulter is pushing manager and promoter Frank Maloney to let him challenge for the light middleweight English crown.

The Swanley boxer, with nine wins from nine pro fights, is now due to compete on Maloney’s card at the Brentwood Leisure Centre on May 14 and Coulter wants some big challenge to come his way soon.

Coulter said: "He’s about ready to fight for the English title and we want to move him up.

"He’s had nine fights and won them all against decent boxers, not just journeymen. I’ll be pushing for the English title and Frank knows that. It just depends whether we get the chance this time or next."

Welsh was hoping to compete alongside eight other Kent boxers in Gillingham next Friday night but contracted a rash that left him unable to train for two weeks.

He will fight now in Brentwood on the undercard of Sam Webb – a possible future opponent.

"If we win the English title, we’ll look to have a crack at Sam Webb," said a confident Coulter. "The kid is a class act."

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