Milch vows to bounce back after suffering first loss

Tony Milch struggled to contain his disappointment after seeing his hopes of lifting the Southern Area Super welterweight title ended by Matt McCarthy on Saturday night.

Going into the fight at York Hall on the back of an unblemished professional record of 13 consecutive fights, the referee stopped the fight a minute into the fifth round.

Speaking to Jewish News after the fight, Milch said: “I feel very disappointed, but it’s boxing. I felt the first few rounds he gave some good shots, but I took it and as the fight went on I was getting into it. I then came forward, took a shot, it knocked me and the referee did the right thing I guess, he saw that my head had jolted back, I put my hands up.

“Yes I’m very disappointed, but well done Matt McCarthy. It was a very good win for him, but I’ll be back. I feel fine, and did so at the time [when the referee ended it], but it was a fair stoppage, so well done to him.”

Needing stiches to his eye and three to his cheek, Milch had said beforehand how the McCarthy wold be his toughest opponent to date, and that, he felt, proved to be the case. “He was, but when you’re in the ring on the night, it’s two fighters, two warriors, neck and neck,” he said. “Whatever he’s done in the past, whatever I’ve done in the past, is in the past. Tonight he got the shot, he got the win so well done to him.”

On how he’ll pick himself up from his first defeat, he added: “I’m going to go home, not make any rash decisions about anything, I’m just very disappointed right now. It wasn’t my night tonight, the best guy won on the night.

“I will use this loss as experience, there are a lot of things I could have done better, and I’ll look at those over the week. Anyone can walk off a shot, but I thought it was a great fight for everyone who came and I’d like to thank all my supporters. It was a great fight, everyone enjoyed it. Good luck to him, I feel strong and I’ll be back.”