Chatteris fighter Jordan Gill says: ‘I might never be a world champ but I’ve had a great career’

A dejected Jordan Gill has accepted he may never be a boxing world champion.

Gill was defeated by technical knockout to home fighter Zelfa Barrett in a Super Featherweight world title eliminator in Manchester on Saturday.

The tenth roundd stoppage victory meant Barrett took the Chatteris fighter’s WBA international super-featherweight belt and progressed to a title fight.

Gill looked to be edging to victory after an impressive display but was downed twice by ferocious Barrett body shots in the tenth round, before the referee stopped the contest.

Gill said after the fight: "Congratulations to Zelfa, what a fantastic fighter. He proved to me tonight he's world-class. I genuinely hope he goes on to win that world title. He's very tricky, hard to pin down. The more I pushed, I left myself open to those body shots. I got up, I will never give up, that's just who I am.

"The ref has a job to do, I'd been down twice. I think I could've carried on but it's not down to me. It's hard, I really wanted to win, my team worked really hard.

"Silly mistakes cost me. No excuses, I was in the best condition I could be in, physically and mentally. He is a world champion in the making.

“I don’t need boxing… I enjoy it and I’m still getting better. Boxing is my love, it’s what I’ve done since I was a kid and it is frustrating that I lost after perhaps my career-best performance.

“I was still feeling good, still feeling strong, I wasn’t tired at all. But I got caught. Boxing is an unforgiving sport, not everyone is going to become world champion.

“Maybe that was my last chance to fulfil a lifelong dream but I’ve had a great career. I’ve been European champion, Commonwealth champion, three-time International champion, headlined shows, but tonight was not my night.”

“Promoter Eddie Hearn said: "Unfortunately, there's a winner and a loser, but here we've got two great blokes. I know Jordan Gill will be upset, but don't give up. After nine rounds, it was anyone's fight.”