Heartbreak for Dingwall and Highland Boxing Academy fighter Ben Bartlett as bid to become double Scottish champion falls through due to opponent pulling out injured
Ben Bartlett says finding out his Scottish Super Welterweight Championship bout had fallen through was heart-breaking – but admits there is a chance it is a blessing in disguise.
The 25-year-old already has a national title at welterweight, but had been due to step up to fight for the super welterweight belt on November 30 at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom.
His scheduled opponent Rico Marinovic, though, has pulled out of the bout due to an injured shoulder.
Bartlett will still be competing in the granite city, but it will be a non-title bout against a new opponent, which the scheduled championship fight now slated for the new year.
“Gutted doesn’t even begin to describe it,” Bartlett explained.
“I only found out 10 days before the fight, so it was a tough one to take, and a bit of a sickener.
“I’ll still get the chance to showcase the skills I’ve been working on over the last few months, but it’s a bit of a sickener.
“I could see in his eyes when I had a face off with him that he didn’t want it.
“I went on social media and called him out, calling him a ‘bottle job’, and I was hoping to get a response for him so that he does take the fight in the new year.
“He supposedly has a problem with his elbow, but to be honest I think it’s just tactics to give him time to train harder and try and get a bit more understanding of the way I box for when we fight.
“I’ve fought with broken hands, dodgy shoulders and elbows, so the fact he pulled out of a title fight has baffled me.”
Bartlett had been putting in the hard work in the gym over recent months in order to prepare for his comeback after a broken hand kept him out of the ring for most of 2024.
He has been setting personal bests in training, which only makes the title bout falling through all the more galling.
However, training can never quite replicate actually stepping into the ring for a competitive fight, so Bartlett believes getting a bout in ahead of any title opportunity will only make him stronger.
“Everything was in place, but sadly it’s not meant to be,” he reasoned.
“I will still treat this fight like it’s a title fight. I’m not going in there to mess around, I’m going in to put on a show and get a solid win, whether that’s by knockout or on points.
“It was a kick in the stomach when I got the phone call about the title fight, but that’s boxing for you.
“I will still be moving up a weight class, and I’m feeling strong at this weight too, so I’m really looking forward to putting on a show for everyone.
“I could have a little bit of ring rust. Rico has been active this year, and he fought less than two months ago, so I might need to shake off some ring rust before the title fight.
“We’ll just need to wait and see. Once that first bell goes, and I throw that first punch, I’ll know how I’m feeling.
“Mentally, I don’t think it not being a title fight will have much of an impact.
“It’s a change of opponent, change of rounds and a change of mindset, but I’m in there to win and so is he. At the end of the day, I’ve got to get the job done.
“This will be another stepping stone in my career and hopefully make me even sharper and more ready for the title fight.”
