Peter Hayme's British title ambitions have been pummelled by a shock defeat to stand-in opponent Paul David at the ExCel Arena in Docklands last Friday. The English light-heavyweight champion, who was not defending his title, was left bewild

By Jonny Weeks

Peter Haymer's British title ambitions have been pummelled by a shock defeat to stand-in opponent Paul David at the ExCel Arena in Docklands on Friday.

The English light-heavyweight champion, who was not defending his title, was left bewildered by the referee's 78-76 verdict after eight rounds, in favour of the Brendan Ingle-trained boxer.

"I'm shocked and surprised - I performed fairly poorly but I was still certain I'd won and so was David," Haymer told Ham&High Sport. "I couldn't believe it when the referee went walking past me towards the other guy and lifted his arm.

"David avoided me for the whole fight. He was leaning back, holding on, moaning about everything. He's one of those typically flash, Fancy-Dan Ingle fighters who drop their arms and throw wild punches. But I never thought he had the better of me."

Haymer had originally expected to fight Steve Spartacus for the British light heavyweight crown but Spartacus opted to face Tony Oakey on the same bill and was stopped in the final round.

"Spartacus is a short, stocky fighter who comes forward and has a go, but David is a rangy, tall guy who kept running away," added Haymer. "They are complete opposites and I wasn't at all prepared for a guy like David.

"He caught me a few times in the last round - but that's not enough to win a fight. There was a time in the second round when I almost took his legs away with a left hook as he lent back."

Haymer knows Friday's defeat may have dreadful consequences for his career. He was next in line for a crack at the British title. But now admits he may have blown his chances.

"I don't know what to think or where to go from this," he said. "I think there's a conspiracy against me because I was supposed to be fighting Spartacus and now they will all use this defeat as an excuse to avoid me.

"I've surpassed the English title and I need to be moving up. But it doesn't seem to work on how good you are. It is who you know and who you're with."

jonny.weeks@hamhigh.co.uk