Grant Cunningham's frustration at title bout

Stafford's Grant Cunningham believes 'events conspired against him' last weekend as he lost his English middleweight title eliminator on a technical decision.

The man from Moss Pit faced fellow undefeated fighter Damon Jones at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock last Saturday for a shot at the English strap.

Just as the fight was catching fire, Jones suffered a cut above his right eyebrow and the contest was stopped by referee Shaun Messer, writes Daniel Mole.

The Leeds battler had had the better of the opening rounds but, by the fourth, seemed to tire as Cunningham increased his punch and work rate.

As the fight was stopped early but past the fourth round, it went to the cards and Messer awarded Jones a 48-47 victory, much to the frustration of Cunningham who felt the bout was stopped prematurely.

He said: "It's been a tough one to take. I don't want to come across as a sore loser but I feel events conspired against me.

"I have no issue with the scoring of the fight, Damon did win those early rounds but it was always my game plan to tire him out early on.

"He likes to bounce and take a breath after throwing his shots but I purposely didn't let him and you could see he was tired after three rounds.

"I then stepped it up and was coming into my own when we accidentally clashed heads. I remember the clash clearly. I remember it in real time.

"As I threw shot inside, we clashed. It happens. What I'm aggrieved at is that the referee was quick to wave it off.

"There were doctors ringside who weren't consulted and the cuts man in Damon's corner wasn't given a chance to even look or work on the injury.

"I thought championship bouts had to go a full halfway before a technical decision could be scored. Whether an eliminator is classed as a championship bout, I'm unsure but will be looking into that.

"Damon is a good guy and a good boxer. I wish him all the best but I've got a loss on my record when I don't feel I lost.

"I believe, 100 per cent, I would have won that fight. I don't think he had another five and a half rounds in him. The fight had turned my way when it was stopped.

"These things happen, it's boxing, but I feel like events conspired against me. I'll move on and go again.

"I'm 31 so time isn't really on my side. I'll dust myself and be back just as strong and just as focussed."