PADDY Fitzpatrick branded Jamie Cox’s undisciplined performance against Michael Frontin as a “five out of 10”, after the Swindon southpaw edged past the Mauritian challenger 78-76 on points at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.

Cox’s trainer Fitzpatrick watched on as the 23-year-old struggled to take a stranglehold on proceedings over eight rounds of scrappy boxing.

And after the fight, the Irishman admitted he had been far from impressed by his charge’s showing, but claimed the night’s action would serve as a lesson to the man who holds ambitions of a shot at the British welterweight title.

“Jamie asked me what I thought of the fight overall, and I said it was a five out of 10 purely because he didn’t do what he was supposed to do,” said Fitzpatrick.

“Jamie should have been getting off twos and threes, getting out, creating the distance again and only coming in when he was ready to work.

“He was coming in and standing in front of him a little bit, looking for the counter and getting caught while he was waiting.”

Cox only landed a handful of shots of any note during the bout, and although it never looked likely that Frontin was going to end the former Walcot star’s now 14-fight unbeaten streak, the display was far from convincing.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist conceded as much, insisting he would learn from his mistakes.

“Everything went great apart from me performing,” he said.

“My mindset has to be developed, and I have to get that better.

“I expected it to go to the full distance and he fought a decent fight.

“He did what he had to do. I just stepped away from what I had to do.

“Me and Paddy have spoken a little, but we’re going to go somewhere quiet and speak a bit more.”

Cox did not to appear to be as in control of the contest as he has in previous outings, and in one instance exhibited a surprising immaturity in the ring.

After having the narrow best of four of the opening five rounds, Cox downed his defences at the end of the sixth, allowing Frontin to fire consecutive hooks.

The Swindon man lost his gumshield, and dropped his guard to make the referee aware, only to be well punished by his opponent.

“My gumshield fell out and went to the floor and I pointed to the floor, but the referee didn’t notice it,” said Cox.

“You should never let your hands down in a boxing ring. I will learn from these things and mature.”

Fitzpatrick said that the pair need to sit down and analyse the fight before they can isolate exactly what went wrong.

But, despite the shaky victory, the duo believe they are ready for a clash against Kell Brook for the British belt.

“There are no excuses in this game. He’s had two-and-a-half years of knocking out everyone he’s been fighting, and looking good doing it,” said Fitzpatrick. “Now it’s time for us to have the fight that Jamie’s deserved.”

“We will come back from this and we will win the British title,” said Cox.

“We have to speak to Frank (Warren) to get things in place.

“I want to fight the best out there and when I come back to the gym and get back in camp, I’ll be ready for anyone.”