SHAYNE Singleton admits he needs his British welterweight title shot against Bradley Skeete 'so badly' after the showdown was rearranged for the FIFTH time.

Colne's Singleton was due to face Skeete in October last year in Cardiff, before the fight was moved to November.

That date was then shelved when Singleton picked up an injury, but with the 27-year-old the mandatory challenger for Skeete's belt it was rearranged for May 6, then put back to May 20, and now it is set to take place on June 2 at the Brentwood Centre in Skeete's backyard.

"It’s been changed that many times. This is the third date this year," said Singleton.

"We had October last year and then November. They changed the date in October then it was my problem for the November one because of injury.

"Then they told me it was going to March so I was training for that. Then it went to May 6, then May 20 and now it’s June 2.

"I’ve been thinking ‘is this fight ever going to happen?’"

Singleton said he didn't know why the fight had been rearranged once again but he is desperate to face the 29-year-old, who has 25 wins from 26 fights, having been in training for him since last year.

"I need this fight so badly. I wouldn't even want him to vacate the belt and me fight someone else for it.

"I’ve been training for Bradley Skeete now for what will be 10 months come June.

"I want that 10 months worth of training to be on him, but it is what it is."

There has been speculation that Skeete could vacate the domestic belt he won against Sam Eggington in March 2016, but Singleton added: "People are saying he’s thinking of vacating because he’s on the verge of a world title shot but then he’s saying he wants to defend it three times and win it outright before he moves on.

"I don’t know where I stand to be honest, but one thing I do know is that I’m mandatory for that British title so whether he does fight me or doesn’t I’m going to fight for that British title."

The rearranged dates have been problematic for Singleton's training and he has been forced to alter the intensity on a couple of occasions this year.

"I kicked on with training from Christmas, thinking I was fighting in March, then it’s changed again. It’s up and down and it’s hard work," he said.

"I can’t maintain it for six months, if I’d done six months all out I wouldn’t be in any fit state to fight so it’s been up and down in training.

"I feel sharp in sparring then have to slow it down again because we’ve got another two weeks in camp."