Kerry Hope tells Secondsout he'll return stronger next season
SecondsOut (July 17, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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SecondsOut.com - By Danny Winterbottom. Merthyr Tydfil southpaw Kerry Hope has reached out to Secondsout.com
to convey his disappointment at losing his European middleweight title
to Grzegorz Proksa on the undercard of Kell Brook’s titanic battle with
American Carson Jones inside a packed out Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield
on July 7.
It was in the very same arena back in March that Hope, plucked from
relative obscurity, annexed the title from the much fancied Pole with
the performance of his career to date. However, the roles of each
fighter were reversed in Hope’s maiden defence as Proksa cut the
Welshman over the right eye in the opening session and had the man from
the valleys down from a sweeping right hand in round eight. Hope beat
the count but was on unsteady legs as referee John Keane waved the
contest off at 2 minutes 59 seconds of the round as Hope went from
elation to dejection within the space of four months, missing the
opportunity of a potential showdown with returning Londoner Darren
Barker next season.
“I lost to the better man on the night, but I can assure you things
would have been different had I been fresh” said the former champion.
“I will be back stronger for sure. I only had two weeks off from
training all year” he said, hinting at the need for a long break.
Hope was due to jet off on a much deserved holiday with his wife and
children to recharge his batteries and spend some quality time with his
young daughter who was born whilst the family man was in the middle of
his camp for the Proksa bout.
“New season, new goals” was his message to the rest of the domestic middleweights.
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