HINDLEY boxer Mark Paxford lost his unbeaten record in controversial and disappointing circumstances last week in Sunderland.

Paxford lost on points to Bradford's Gavin Pearson, but even Pearson's manager was lost for words when his boxer was declared the winner.

The referee scored the contest 59-58 stunning the Paxford camp who believed their man had outboxed and outpunched his opponent.

Mark finished the fight virtually unmarked, while Pearson required five stitches to a bad cut over his left eye, and did well to survive the sixth round of the contest as Mark looked close to a stoppage victory.

As you can imagine we are extremely upset and angry that Mark should lose his unbeaten record in such circumstances. Mark has battled back from a very serious injury this season, and while we wouldn't complain if he was beaten fairly, we cannot accept that all his hard work should be undone by a poor referee.

Mark has found it difficult to come to terms with the defeat, but is very keen to get back in the ring and get his career back on track. He was back in the gym on Monday, and we hope to get him a contest at the end of June -- possibly in Rotherham against a fighter from Sheffield called Dean Walker -- but we are still working on the details.

We would obviously jump at the chance of a return with Pearson, but I don't think that his management would be very interested in the prospect of getting in the ring with Paxford again.