Teddington’s Kieran Leinster lost in the ring for the first time in his career, and then praised his conqueror.

Leinster was bidding to beat defending Queensbury Boxing League middleweight British champion Gareth Gardner at the Effingham Park Hotel on Saturday night.

However, after a bruising encounter, the 22-year-old went down to a unanimous points decision.

He said: “It was an amazing contest to be involved in and even though I lost I’ve learned so much from the experience that I’m going to come back a thousand times stronger.

“I’m known for starting slow in all my fights, but for this one I couldn’t get going in the first two rounds and allowed Gardner to take the rounds, and on top of that I was making silly mistakes and that’s what cost me the points.”

He added: “Gardner was much quicker and stronger than I thought he was going to be and he is a great champion.

“But I think I proved that I belong at this level now and I’ll take what I have learned from the loss and be back next season better and stronger.”