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Victory in defeat for Jay Byrne who looks set to secure big Sky Sports fights

Jay Byrne lost his 0 on St Patrick’s Day, but gained lots of respect and put himself in the frame for a big fight on the massive sold out Wembley Stadium Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko pay-per-view card.

‘The Negotiator’ took a risk and jumped up to middleweight to face rising star Felix Cash on the inaugural Matchroom NXTGEN show on Friday.

The risk didn’t’ reap a career changing win, but had rewards in other forms the St Joseph Boys football manager has revealed.

The 30 year old is adamant that his standing rose despite the six round points reverse and that the loss will be beneficial for his career.

“In life you sometimes have to take one step backwards to take two forwards, which is what I have done,” Byrne [4(1)-1(0)] told Irish-Boxing.com following the York Hall loss.

“Matchroom went to Tommy McCormack [co trainer] before we left to get his details as they said they wanted me back. They said that there are big fights for me at welter and light middle, there was even mention of the Joshua-Klitschko card.”

“Eddie Hearn met me getting out of the ring to say well done and that he was very, very impressed. He also said he would love me back at my proper weight and that I had some balls.”

“I was also approached by James DeGale, Dillian Whyte and many others to say well done and that I was a tough motherf*cker.”

Byrne lost every round to a fighter that those in the know believe has all the tools to be a power punching World champ.

However, he literally smiled in the face of adversity and was more than just a live foe for Cash.

“After the first couple of rounds I really enjoyed it. I was nervous of the size difference and whether i’d be okay with the power difference, but I had fun in there. I was laughing at him at one point and called him on. He wasn’t hurting me and I wanted to entertain.”

There were some fan suggestions post the fight that Byrne could prove the ultimate opponent, but going in just to survive isn’t in the fighters make up.

The Loughlinstown man is sure that he won’t slip into journeyman mode and the fighter, who next appears on It’s A Bout Boxing Ireland’s April 1st National Stadium show, claims that when he returns to Sky broadcast shows it will be with securing victory in mind.

“I certainly wont be going into journeyman mode. I don’t box for the money and I certainly wont be going into a ring regularly to lose. Anyone that watched the fight can see I kept going and wanted to win.”

“The size difference was just too much in the end but, as I said, it was a door opening fight that has worked out perfect. I will be back on Sky regularly, on big cards and I will be going to win.”

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