CROOK fighter Nigel Wright has insisted he will bounce back from Friday night's surprise defeat to new British light welterweight champion Lenny Dawes, writes Scott Wilson.

Wright, who was ABA champion at the same weight in 1998 and 2000, lost a 117-111 points decision after a hard-fought contest at London's York Hall.

The 26-year-old, who trains in Hartlepool, enjoyed the better of the early rounds, spearing Dawes with a shuddering jab in the latter stages of the second.

But Morden-born Dawes cut his opponent under the right eye in the third and dominated the contest's crucial middle rounds.

Wright rallied effectively in the 11th but was unable to produce the knockout blow that would have rendered the judges' scorecards irrelevant.

"It is all hard to take at the moment," admitted Wright, who has now lost two of his 17 professional contests. "This is a massive disappointment.

I was so confident I was going to win, but he just totally outworked me. "Credit to Lenny - he is a very worthy champion and, on the night, he was a much better fighter.

"But I'll be back. I'm still young and time is on my side. I have asked for a rematch and hopefully after Lenny has had a defence, he will take me on again."