SWINDON super heavyweight Luke Watkins remained positive following his exit from the Elite ABA Championships on Friday.

The Fitzpatrick’s ABC boxer Watkins admitted he strayed from the gameplan against Bristol rival David Bailey but is confident he will learn from his mistake.

“I came away from what I was meant to be doing,” said Watkins. “I rocked him early and I got a bit excited being at home and tried to fight a fighter. It didn’t work for me.

“I boxed him in the first round but tried to fight him in the second and third.

“It is what it is. I got drawn into his fight. Obviously need to learn from it and I always take the positives from every fight.

“I think you learn more in defeat than in victory anyway.”

Watkins troubled Bailey in the opening round as he boxed well behind his jab in the bout at Swindon ABC’s open show. But after abandoning his jab in the second round, he allowed Bailey back into the fight before trading punches with the Bristolian in the third.

Watkins will now look to bounce back immediately when he fights on Fitzpatrick’s bumper show on Friday night. His trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick is grooming Watkins to turn professional in the near future but the boxer himself claims this latest defeat won’t make him make any hasty decisions about leaving the amateur ranks.

“He (Paddy) understands that I am still learning and that it is all part of my apprentiship. There is no point rushing (to turn professional) until am qualified. There are still steps I must take and thing I must learn. I’m straight back in action on Paddy’s show which will be good because I think a lot of people are coming.”

Fitzpatrick’s show takes place on Friday night at the Oasis Leisure Centre and looks set to feature a bumper 18-bout card.

British super-middleweight star and world title challenger George Groves will also be attending the event.

Standard tickets cost £10 (or £24 for four) while VIP tickets, which include a question and answer session with George Groves, are £40 each or £100 for four. No VIP’s will be available for sale on the night but standard tickets will be on sale for £10.

Call the Oasis on 01793 507110 or visit Fitzpatrick’s Boxing Gym in Rodbourne Road, Swindon for tickets.