Ellett '˜gutted' after second pro defeat

Brighton boxer Lloyd Ellett says he was deeply gutted after being stopped in the second round by unbeaten Ted Cheeseman on Saturday.

Ellett made a strong start in the first round and felt the referee stopped the English title eliminator fight too early in the second round as he suffered just his second defeat in 22 professional fights.

He said: “I am deeply gutted at the outcome and if I thought I had deserved to lose, then I honestly would have walked away from this sport.

“In the first round, I got off to a flying start, roughing him up on the inside and clearly won the opener. Then, in the second round, I got tagged with a right hand but I wasn’t hurt. I have been hurt before in a boxing ring and that didn’t come close to other occasions where I’ve managed to shrug it off and continue.

“The referee jumped in way too quick and it was all over before it barely got started. The feedback I’ve received since was all the same, everyone telling me I was winning the fight and how it shouldn’t have been stopped so early.

“I’d rather have been knocked clean out to be able to accept it better and to say that I lost to a better boxer. I got back to the dressing room and looked at my team and just laughed – I couldn’t believe what had just happened!”

Looking ahead to the future, Ellett said: “Next, I’m hoping for another worthwhile fight that is on the same level or above, so I’ll see what happens in the New Year.