BOXING: DISAPPOINTED Jamie Cox promised to come back stronger than ever after his 17-16 defeat in the Four Nations light-welterweight final while his England coach Terry Edwards slammed the judges for what he described as a travesty of justice'.

Both Cox and Edwards admitted that it wasn't anything like his best performance but they still felt that they had been robbed of a gold medal.

"The result was a travesty of justice," said Edwards. "Jamie didn't box as well as he can and showed a hell of a lot of tension, nerves and frustration.

"But I couldn't see how the judges saw it. Going into the last round he is four points clear, gets a public warning which takes two points off him but he clearly, clearly won the last round and I think the reaction of the audience showed that as well.

"When you are in Dublin you have to beat them twice. We felt he won it, I think every one but the judges in the stadium thought he won it and that says it all really.

"I've been in boxing long enough now to know when a boxer wins or loses but when you are in somone elses country you have to accept it.

"The audience showed what they thought and I think the reaction of the Irish lad collapsing to his knees because he couldn't believe it said it all.

"It's just a shame these silly decisions happen because it doesn't do either kid any good. But it's not a setback. We'll go away and look at the video and sort everything out and if Jamie comes back and wins gold at the Commonwealths then I'll be happy. But this is all just part of the training for the Commonwealths."

Edwards admitted that Cox struggled to cope with his Irish rival David Nevin's boxing style but promised that his England light-welterweight star will be back to his best in time for the Commonwealth Games.

"It's about the bigger picture for Jamie," said Edwards.

"This is just part of the programme for the Commonwealth Games.

"He has to learn to cope with that sort of style that rushes in there.

"He was very, very nervous and that shows in his performance. We're looking for his best performance in the Commonwealths.

"He has to control the nerves before the bout, but he's young, he's still learning but he'll learn from that. It's no major deal. We felt he won it, I think every one but the judges in the stadium thought he won it and that says it all really."

Cox himself was visibly devastated by the decision but promised to bounce back for the Commonwealth Games. The 19-year-old said: "It's a hard decision to take and I'm disappointed but he got booed by his own crowd so that says it all really.

"The reaction of the lad in the ring said everything, he dropped to his knees because he couldn't believe the decision. I didn't fight well but I knew I'd done enough to win but I don't care about that now, it's all about the Commonwealths."

Cox also admitted his moment of indiscipline when he headbutted Nevin was unprofessional but put it done to frustration.

Cox added: "I felt the referee wasn't doing his job and I butted the guy. I took it into my own hands and I shouldn't have done that.

"It was wrong, it was bad sportsmanship but he was holding me all the time and the referee should have picked up on that.

"I've got to be positive and Jamie Cox is going to come back bigger and better. I know I won gold here, everyone knows that, I just didn't get the decision, simple as that. Speaking to the Irish lads out here they all say I've won it."