Mal Gates declared himself “proud” of Paul Gidney, even though the South Shields crowd favourite missed out on the British Promoters Association Challenge Belt.
The 21-year-old was edged out by a close points decision by James Beech Jnr in the battle of the unbeaten super-bantamweights in Solihull.
Gidney, predictably, was his customary all-action self, taking the fight to the Midlander at the Holiday Inn.
The southpaw scored regularly against the home fighter who, several times, caught the away fighter low.
Gates was sure Gidney had done enough, but feared the decision would go against them and the coach was proven correct as ref Shaun Messer lifted Beech’s arm aloft with a score of 78-76.
“I’m really proud with the way he performed and I feel for him that he didn’t get what he deserved,” said the trainer. “I told him before the last to keep it tight at the start and then boss it and he did just that.
“I said at the end ‘you won but you might not get it’ and sadly he didn’t.
“If that had been in Shields he’d have won comfortably.
“But that happens away from home, we have to accept it and move on.
“Paul controlled the centre of the ring, bust Jimmy’s nose, and left the ring without a mark on him.
“He was booed in but cheered out, that was the measure of his performance.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him.
“If we get beaten I can take it, I don’t moan, I’m boxing man, but Paul should have got that.
“With it being a dinner show, there were quite a few neutrals there and plenty said Paul won.
“The result never went our way but he’ll be straight back in on the Shields show on April 28.”
In tonight’s other bout featuring a local lad on the road, Gus Robinson Developments boxer Jordan Ellison was outpointed at Doncaster Dome by Barnsley southpaw Robbie Barrett.
The Hartlepool-trained lost out 78-74 to the ex-British champion on the card of referee Jamie Kirkpatrick.
Words: Roy Kelly
