CHEPSTOW boxer Pat Mullane suffered his first Welsh championship defeat at the weekend in what his coach described as 'a cracker', writes Bob Cypher.

But Steve Woods, head coach at Chepstow BC, believes the loss will help to motivate the young boxer and is hoping his performance won't affect his selection for Wales' team for the Great Britain Three Nations tournament.

“It was a cracking bout which many thought was the best of the day,” Woods said later.

“There was nothing in it but Pat took a standing count in round one after taking two body shots followed by a peach of a left hook and that probably swayed the judges.

“Now we wait to see which two boxers are selected for the tournament and if it is Pat and his opponent today, Taylor Bevan, they could meet in the final and that will be very interesting because Pat will be fitter, faster and stronger.”