Josh Wale travelled to France on Friday night in a bid to pick up the European bantamweight title.
Battling against Georges Ory at the Gymnase Lassalle in Vesoul, Wale knew he had to impress to take the strap away from home.
And do that he did. As for at least eight of the twelve Wale was in control of the contest.
Not said the judges as Ory got the decision by the tightest of margins 116-114 and 115-113. Another official had it a draw 114-114.
Groans followed from UK fans as Wale’s representative Stefy Bull expressed his disappointment at the ruling.
“Just want to thank everyone and family at home who’s supported Josh on his European title challenge.
“He won the battle but didn’t get the decision. We are in a little town here in France and we boxed a French kid on the promoters own show. We lost on a split (majority) decision.
“Coming to France, we couldn’t risk going to the scorecards so myself and Mick’s game plan was to simply get on him to do what Josh does best and work away.
“He never took a step back constantly walked him down and hit him with everything. Credit to the Frenchman he stuck in but was very negative on back foot only throwing counters.
“I felt we won the fight it’s heartbreaking to get this far and be on the wrong end of a bad decision, but it’s boxing and nothing we can do.
“The French have done everything to try unsettle us the morning of the weigh in woke us up at 8am drove us two hours to a lab for Josh to have his bloods taken not once, but twice with no explanation.
“Nobody here speaks English and the BBBofC sent no representative to help us which was disappointing. We were here alone with no support.
“It’s been a crazy experience here but it never stopped us believing we can win. I love Josh and the friendship I have with him and his father is more than boxing.
“This makes it more painful when we all thought we won.
“This post is not to sound bitter as I’m proud of what Josh has achieved in boxing but today he should be the European champion.
“As much as I love boxing, I’ve said it before these nights hurt more than the wins. It just doesn’t weigh up,” he added.
SUNNY
Elsewhere in London at the world famous York Hall, Sunny Edwards (Pictured by BoxNation) proved he’s a real contender at super-flyweight.
The 22 year-old dismantled a talented and dogged fighter in Ryan Farrag, taking every round of ten on the WBN card.
In the end, one judge was able to give Farrag a session as Edwards ran out a clear winner 100-90 x2 and 99-91.
