Boxing: Hope but no glory

Mar 27 2008 by David Williams, Merthyr Express

KERRY HOPE was left “absolutely gutted” after suffering a painful first defeat at the hands of Matthew Hall.

The Galon Uchaf 26-year-old was stopped by the referee in the final round having been down twice in the eight-round fight.

The damage was done in round three when Hall, 23, caught Hope on the ear, leaving the Enzo Calzaghe-trained middleweight with a perforated ear drum.

From then on Hall dominated with some big blows while Hope struggled to find his range.

“I couldn’t hear anything after he caught me on my ear,” said Hope. “My balance went and I must have had concussion because when the bell went for the last round I thought it was only the fourth.

“I must have been sleeping for four rounds.”

The defeat was Hope’s first in his 12-fight career while Hall, who could now go on to challenge for an English or British title, took his record to 18 wins from 19.

And the Welshman, left devastated following the bruising encounter, admits he got his tactics wrong and paid for his mistakes.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” he said. “I knew he was a good puncher so I thought I would try to push him back and get involved close in but I didn’t box properly at all.

“Its knocked my confidence a bit and I’m really disappointed because I’ve let myself and other people down.”

But Hope is looking to take something positive from the defeat at Cardiff’s CIA.

He was the second Newbridge-based boxer to lose a 100 per cent record on the night, along with Gavin Rees, but that might not be a bad thing in the long run.

“Losing might take a lot of pressure off me,” he said.

“It might be a good thing in the end but the way I’m feeling now it isn’t.

“People have said I showed a lot of heart and a good chin.

“Maybe it was too early to take a fight like that and I’d like a rematch when I’m a bit more experienced.

“I think there was a lot of expectations on me and perhaps I was trying too hard to impress.

“He’s a good boxer and some of those punches would’ve knocked most people out.”

The Merthyr man will take a week or two off before getting back into training.

He won’t be making the trip to see sparring partners Joe Calzaghe, Bradley Pryce and Nathan Cleverly fight in Las Vegas in April and is aiming to get back in the ring within the next two months.

“I’m confident I can come back stronger from this,” he said.

“Its been a disappointing time for the gym lately but hopefully we will bounce back.”

l Turn to page 55 for more pictures.