Team GB boxer Anthony Fowler has told Sports Mole that he was left "speechless" by his elimination in the last-16 stage of the 2015 European Games on Sunday.
Fowler, who was seeded first for the competition, lost all three rounds to inexperienced Italian Salvatore Cavallaro, according to the judges' scorecards in Baku.
However, the Liverpool-born fighter does not believe that he deserved to suffer defeat due to Cavallaro's 'survival tactics', especially in the last two rounds.
"I am just speechless. I didn't deserve that. I thought that I had won the fight. I thought I had won the first two rounds and in the third, he just ran away and there was no clear winner on either part. I am just speechless to be honest. I cannot believe that they had me losing after the first round, I thought that I had won it comfortably," said Fowler.
"I hurt him a few times and I thought he was backing off. He felt my power and did not want to stand there with me. I thought I was on top and I am just devastated. I could have done another three rounds in there, the kid just would not engage.
"I thought the new system – no headguards and three, three minute-rounds, was going to favour the aggressive boxer, but he was just running away, holding and throwing the head in. I thought it was a joke to be honest, but what can I say? Just devastated."
"The first round he tried to hold his ground and engage, and he came off second best. I was catching him with clear, hard right hands and his face was covered in blood. I haven't got a scratch on me, I think after he felt my power he opted for the back foot. Their camp knew they were winning so they must have thought 'it is Christmas day here, I am running away and getting the round'. What can I say?."
Fowler, 24, won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games last summer.
Matt Law
