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Gobsmacked Darren Cruise promises rematch KO following close Keeler loss

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A ‘gobsmacked’ Darren Cruise [7(1)-6(0)] has promised to stop Luke Keeler if they rematch for the Irish middleweight title later this year.

The Roscommon puncher was on the wrong end of a 96-95 points decision in the National Stadium on Saturday night as Keeler [13(5)-2(1)] had his hand raised after a back and forth domestic title fight.

The solder is adamant the referee scored the bout wrong and believes he should now be basking in Irish title glory.

Cruise claims he was shocked the decision didn’t go his way, believing he won by seven round to three on the night.

“I genuinely felt I won the fight seven rounds to three,” Cruise told Irish-Boxing.com afterwards.

“I didn’t feel like he troubled me in any stage of the fight. I felt in complete control.”

“I was landing the cleaner shots in every round. I was gobsmacked by the decision as were the majority of the crowd. You can see on social media that people felt like I won the fight.”

Post-fight there were those who felt a draw may have been a fair result and there were those in the Stadium who argued it could have went either way. There certainly wasn’t a ‘robbery’ feel, but there was a percentage who sympathised with Cruise as the result was read out.

The new champion claimed he would be willing to it again – and both camps seem to suggest it would be a fight that could work on an Irish Matchroom Card.

Cruise is especially rematch keen, but claims if they were to do it again he wouldn’t be leaving it to the judges to decide his fate.

“I 100 per cent want that fight again and this time I will stop him not outbox him. Hopefully Katie Taylor comes to the 3Arena this year and I feel that it’s an obvious fight to have on the undercard.”

“It’s a way bigger fight now because there is so much debate.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

frayne carpentry

irishboxing

Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

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