A SIDCUP boxer is looking to bounce back quickly after suffering a controversial defeat in a national competition.

Ernie Rutherford, 16, reached the final of the NABC/CYP in the 75kg category where he took on Thomas Nicholson from Darlington ABC.

This was only Rutherford’s fifth fight of his career against a much more experienced opponent, who was boxing for the 22nd time.

In the end the Orpington ABC member lost the bout by just one point despite almost knocking Nicholson out four times, only to see the ref give Rutherford a standing eight count.

The Sidcup ace said: “I fought one of the best boys in the country in only my fifth fight and I gave him hell on one of my off days.

“If I meet him again I’ll beat him no problem.

“I didn’t have a good run up to the fight we had to change gyms about two weeks ago, so we didn’t even have anywhere to train until Jon from Karma Gym in Erith let us train there.

“I would like to thank him for that.”

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