Exclusive Boxing Interview: Gary Davies

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

SaddoBoxing spoke to Gary Davies this morning after he suffered the loss of his British bantamweight title on points to Ian Napa last night at the Bolton Arena in Bolton, England.

An obviously disappointed Davies said, “I thought I’d won it. I know I won the first four rounds definitely. I thought it was close but I was busier and I wanted it more”.

Davies lost out on points to Napa, who gets the British bantamweight belt for a second time having relinquished it earlier this year after capturing the European crown.

But Davies revealed that on Wednesday he’d had a crash on his motorcycle and was in hospital till 3 am Thursday morning. The St. Helens based man suffered cuts and bruises, a swollen knee, glass in his hand and a sore leg, but was determined he would not let it stop him from making the fight. “I didn’t want to let anybody down,” he said.

“Then I was late getting to the weigh-in and couldn’t believe it when they said I was over the limit by .6 of a pound! People always think I have trouble making the weight but I don’t – I always know I’m going to make weight, but I’d been a pound under the weight that morning so was shocked to be over.

“I had 30 minutes to lose the weight, but came back 20 minutes later and was a pound under. I thought I looked in even better shape than last time – well ripped. But obviously, I put some weight back on for the fight, I was 10 stone [140 lb] and when I stepped in to the ring to face Napa.

“I saw him and his team look at my stomach and I thought he’s going to go for the body. Napa has a horrible guard and is smaller in height, but I thought I did well, my corner were happy with me, Pete seemed to think I was winning but said I should give a big last round, which I did!

“I’ve learned a lot from that fight. I’ve proved I can do the 12 rounds and I know I’m going to come back stronger!”