After valiantly failing in his quest to win the WBC super-bantamweight crown last night, losing a decision to the Mexican Rey Vargas, the fighter had this to say to the media.
‘I will learn, I know where I went wrong, I am disappointed, but I will work so hard.
‘I had him winning by a couple of rounds, probably three rounds in my opinion. Everyone is in with a puncher’s chance – if I can improve my speed and power I will land and I can beat that kid.
‘If we do have a rematch, I know how to beat him in the future.’
‘I gave it everything and I hope everyone enjoyed it. I feel like I let everyone down.
‘I just fell short at the end. I felt all right in there, I was a bit too eager and I couldn’t get close enough. I will come again – I have only had 18 fights and I want to show I belong at this level.
‘I have no doubt I will be a world champion.’
Gavin has time to come again and could, on another night, realise his dream.
As for his promoter, Eddie Hearn, he had this to say,
‘I think Gavin started too slowly and he was always chasing it. Vargas was very good – he had excellent feet and confidence.
‘To put in a performance like that, Gavin should be very proud but ultimately he was not good enough. I think Rey Vargas will go on to do a lot in the sport.
‘Gavin has improved so much but he was not letting his hands go and that was the frustrating thing. It was a little bit of inexperience. If he did what he did in the ninth from the fifth round onwards then he would’ve had a chance.’
He might have done but he came up against, like Eddie says, a fighter that will go a long way in this sport.
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