James Fryers '˜disgusted' after losing British title eliminator to Maxi Hughes

James Fryers was far from happy after losing his British title eliminator to Maxi Hughes at the Europa Hotel in Belfast on Saturday night.
Antonio Horvatic after being knocked down by James Tennyson on Saturday nightAntonio Horvatic after being knocked down by James Tennyson on Saturday night
Antonio Horvatic after being knocked down by James Tennyson on Saturday night

Fryers and Hughes both gave their all in a closely contested 10 rounds but Hughes got the verdict on a split decision 98-93, 94-96 and 93-97.

And Fryers says he thought he had done enough to win the encounter.

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“I am disgusted, to be honest. No-one likes to lose a fight. I thought I had won the fight.

“No disrespect to Maxi but I thought I had won the fight. He got the decision and he won the fight but I thought I did the better boxing on the night.

“I thought I was landing the more hurtful punches. I’m just disgusted. I will have to look back at the fight and I can then see what I did wrong,” he added.

And Fryers admitted that southpaw Hughes was hard to pin down during the 10 rounds.

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“He is a smooth and slick operator and I knew that from the beginning. I knew that he was going to move and use his slick southpaw stance, but he never landed anything hurtful or spiteful.

“His jabs were pawing off my gloves and I thought I was catching him flush and doing the better work,” he added.

“I am just disappointed, when I heard the first judge’s score in my favour it sounded about right and then the second one went to Maxi which I thought was a bit strange.

“The third score was closer but I thought I would get the win but I didn’t get it.

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“I was just thinking ‘what’s going on there?’ I’m just lost for words,” said Fryers.

But the Belfast super-featherweight says he will learn and come back stronger from this defeat.

“I will sit down with Nugget Nugent, Martin Lindsay and Mark Dunlop and see where we go from here.

“I will take a wee bit of a rest and see what happens. I am just gutted,” said Fryers.

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But Hughes was delighted to get the win in Fryers’ backyard.

“I’m happy to win. I didn’t think he’d be as fit because he’s only had foreign pushovers and he’s only done six rounds but I could gauge what he was going to do.

“I was a bit loose at times but we all make mistakes.

“He was a good fighter who kept coming and kept trying but I just had that edge. The experience showed tonight,” he added.

And Hughes admitted he thought Fryers may have got the decision.

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“I was confident at first of getting the decision and then they were taking forever to announce it and I thought they’re fixing this.

“When they gave it a split I can understand because I’m away from home, but me and my team thought we’d won it. I don’t now what that other judge was seeing.”

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