Belfast would be a great fight

However, as I told you last week, I will not be fighting Danish WBA world super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler next time out, though that fight could still come off sometime in the summer.

It is virtually certain my next outing will be on March 18 and among the many venues mentioned has been Belfast, which is interesting.

I have never fought in Northern Ireland as a professional or an amateur but I did go there to support Bradley Pryce in his bid to become British welterweight champion in February 2003.

The Irish fans are very passionate and very knowledgeable and I'm sure if I were to fight there I would get great support but, as I say, Belfast is one of several venues mentioned.

It is all down to availability and the decision is the promoter's and though I'd love to fight in Wales, the main thing is getting back in the ring as soon as possible.

Talking of Bradley Pryce, I was pleased to read in the Argus last night that he is to get another chance at the British title, after being stopped in eight rounds by Neil Sinclair in that Belfast fight.

Sinclair's strength was too much for Bradley that night but though Bradley has been involved in a few wars since and been beaten unexpectedly a few times, he has picked himself up and should be a better boxer for his experiences and deserves another chance.

If fights were determined by a boxer's heart, Bradley would undoubtedly be a world champion as he has tremendous courage and confidence.

But he also has tremendous skill and if he uses that and his head he could beat David Barnes, though it won't be easy as Barnes is a good boxer and counter-puncher.

Boxers are always full of confidence. They have to be.

You can't go into the ring in any other state or you'd take a beating, so it's not surprising to hear IBU super-featherweight champion Michael Gomez calling for a fight with IBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison and saying he'd beat him.

I tipped Harrison to defeat Colombian Victor Polo in defence of his title last week but, by all accounts, he was lucky to get a draw and retain his crown.

I didn't see the fight but I'm told by many who did that Polo deserved the verdict.

That is now four times he has lost world title fights on away ground, the previous three to split decisions.

In one he slipped on a towel and it was ruled a knockdown and that cost him the fight, so he has to be one of the unluckiest fighters around.

I think sometimes the judges are swayed by the reaction of the home fighter's supporters, but unfortunately that's the way it goes.

Despite that, I don't think Gomez would beat Harrison and I'm not even sure he would win a rematch with another Scot, Alex Arthur.

Polo was a world class boxer and Gomez is not and when he beat Arthur before, Arthur was still learning the game and has improved a lot since then.

Finally, just a few words about my old friend Craig Bellamy, in the news this week after his fall-out with Newcastle manager Graeme Souness, and the Wales v England rugby international this weekend.

Regarding the latter, I don't think Wales will have a better chance of beating the world champions.

England have lost a host of players since their success in Australia both through retirement and injuries while Wales have improved game by game.

Now is the time to make that final leap and start beating the big guns instead of failing narrowly and I'll watch the game with interest.

Regarding Craig, I think he'll be feeling really gutted at leaving St James' Park.

I can't comment on the reasons for his fall-out, but moving to Celtic on loan may be a good move career-wise. He'll be playing alongside Wales team-mate John Hartson and playing in an easier league than the Premiership and I think he'll score a lot more goals and have a lot of fun.

He's had a bad time and has hit the headlines, but having your every move watched and scrutinised is one of the price's of fame.

Let's hope from now on he lets his football do the talking.