Upbeat to the fight punch, coach Nick Millwood picked up Alex Speed immediately after a split-decision loss for the Tasmania Boxing League middleweight title in a bout that "could have gone either way" in Campbell Town.
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"That was a cracking fight - it was still pretty good [the result]," Millwood said.
"He lost but there was a punch in it, I reckon. It was very, very close all the way."
Rather than howling calls of protest over Glenorchy's statewide champion Thomas Barker having his hand raised moments after the final bell, Millwood remains adamant the gutsy Launceston pugilist will be better off for the bitter disappointment from the main event.
The 22-year-old has plans to turn professional in the new year and an inaugural serious title triumph would have solidified not only his record, but reputation too.
A defeat of the one-time Australian champion would have attracted a number of waiting promoters for Speed.
"It is just a stepping stone towards that," Millwood said.
"Alex's style really suits the professional ranks a lot more because you have got longer rounds and more rounds.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"It's more of a mind game where in amateurs they have to get in and throw as many punches as they can."
The two fighters headlined a packed Saturday afternoon card in the worst of "sloppy" open-air conditions on site at the Grange Function and Meeting Centre.
"There was a bit of rain around, then the sun would come out and it would get really muggy, then it would rain again," Millwood said.
"It was really hard for us to get a sort of feel for it if you get what I mean. At the end of the day, he fought well."
It was much better news for some of Speed's younger clubmates earlier in the day amid a clearer outlook.
Ben Armour took out the the 69kg catchweight state belt against Heath Kean in their third recent stoush.
Jade Nichols claimed a sub-junior 44.5kg title in the female fight with Ella Crosswell.
Cody Holmes's fight was scrapped after Kane Wilson was unable to make the 38kg weight.
But one of the Launceston Boxing Club's most promising juniors walked away the Tasmanian Boxing League's rising star-of-the-year award after Holmes earned six wins from six fights.
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
