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Just a blip!

Dave Lawrenson
15/12/2005

STEVE Foster Junior insists that he will be back to his best when he defends his WBU Featherweight title for the first time on Saturday, February 25.

Salford's first world champion for more than a century produced the worst performance of his career at the weekend.

He spoilt his 100 per cent professional record by drawing with 'average' Ugandan Buster Dennis and he is determined to make amends.

The 25-year-old said: "I'll defend my title in Scotland at the end of February.

"I'll be fighting John Simpson. He's a good Scottish fighter who has twice lost on points in British title fights.

"On paper he is a tougher opponent than Buster Dennis.

"But this time I can prepare properly as I know who I am fighting well in advance.

"I was supposed to be fighting Romanian Marian Leandraliu on Saturday.

"But he failed to make the weight and I was only told that I would be fighting Buster a couple of days before the fight.

"I didn't have the time to study my opponent properly and it showed on the night.

"Buster was a lot better than I expected him to be but, having said that, it was still a fight that I should have won.

"I was very disappointed with the way that I boxed. I didn't feel 100 per cent. Everyone at my gym has been getting ill and in the end I was just relieved to get away with a draw.

"I am still unbeaten so it's just a blip as far as I'm concerned. Every fighter has setbacks at some stage in their career and I will come back stronger from this. I don't want people to see me fighting like that ever again."

Foster Junior was the overwhelming favourite at London's ExCel Arena.

Dennis had lost over half of his 22 professional fights.

Simpson's record is far superior. He has won 13 out of 16 and never been stopped inside the distance.

Foster Junior said: "He is a dangerous opponent and I need to get back to my best."