No honeymoon for 'Headsplitter'

Issac 'Headsplitter' Hardman has, with the blessing of his wife, postponed their honeymoon to get back in the boxing ring.

The former Caboolture resident who now lives at Bald Hills, will face Beau Hartas on the undercard of of a huge D&L Events show on the Gold Coast on July 2.

It will be just over two months since Hardman was stopped in the second round of a world title eliminator in Melbourne.

Days later the 26-year-old married Jiville Latu and the newly-weds had planned a honeymoon in Fiji this month.

But, losing his unbeaten professional record to Zerafa and the lure a ‘massive’ show on the Gold Coast in July were weighing on Hardman’s mind.

“We were sitting down to dinner and I mentioned it,” said the middleweight who trains at Nitro Fitness Boxing in Chermside.

“She (Jiville) said ‘Fiji ‘s not going anywhere. Let’s get a fight and get back in the winner’s circle’. I thought wow! That’s why I married her.”

Hardman will be on the same show as the IBF World Cruiserweight title fight between Australia’s challenger Jai Opetaia and champion Mairis Briedis, from Latvia.

Hartas, from Canberra, made his debut nine years ago and will come into the fight with six wins, one defeat and one no contest from eight bouts.

It will be an important first step back for Hardman as he looks to regain his position as a world middleweight title challenger.

“I’ve kept working in the gym and am back in full training now,” he said. “You are only as good as your last fight and I can’t leave it like that.

“This is the best way to bounce back. I was too emotional in the last fight (against Zerafa). But all the lessons have been learned and I’m better for that loss.”