ROBBIE Turley may have lost his British super-bantamweight title eliminator to Tommy Ward at the weekend but the thrill of being involved in a big fight night again has rekindled his love for boxing.

The 29-year-old Welshman suffered a unanimous points defeat on Saturday night, with unbeaten Ward now set to challenge for the British belt currently held by Jazza Dickens.

Ward’s 97-93, 98-92, 96-94 victory at Rainton Meadows Arena near Sunderland owed much to the County Durham fighter’s fast start.

He bossed the early rounds before Turley came on strong in the latter stages having had a point deducted for holding in the seventh by referee John Latham.

Turley felt the contest was closer than the judges’ scorecards suggest, and although disappointed not to get the verdict, the Cefn Fforest boxer took a lot of positives from the bout.

“I was disappointed not to get the win but at the same time I enjoyed having a hard fight,” he said. “I hadn’t had a 10-rounder for about 15 months so it was just what I needed.

“Boxing has bored me over the last year. I’ve been training but nothing much has been happening and I’ve had problems trying to get people to fight me.

“I started to get sick of boxing but I’m much more excited about the game now and hopefully more opponents will take fights against me rather than turn them down.

“Tommy has promised me a voluntary defence if he takes the title off Jazza, though I think Jazza might be a bit too strong for him.”

Assessing his eliminator defeat, Turley added: “He took the first three rounds with his speed and movement.

“I started to wear him down after that but I knew I had to put my foot on the gas. I actually boxed differently to how I do normally and went on the front foot.

“I had a point taken off me in round seven which was a bit shocking.

“I began to chase him down after I had the point off and if I’d had two more rounds I could have won it.

“I came on strong in the last four rounds but I wished I’d stepped on the gas earlier.”

Turley is keen to get back in the ring soon and says he doesn’t mind taking another fight at short notice.