Hutchinson: I wanted a war I got a cat and mouse game

JOHN Hutchinson was hoping his Irish light middleweight title fight with Peter McDonagh was going to be a Stag like head collision and admits he was left frustrated by the game of cat and mouse.

However, whilst the Donegal puncher is upset he didn’t claim the title in an ‘classic’ Irish title fight he is looking to take the positives from his first career defence.

‘The Buncrana Banger’ is adamant put the points reverse to good use in future battles and claims he learnt valuable lessons against the now two weight champion last month.

“I was there and ready and prepared for a Irish classic. An all out action fight for the Irish title. Instead we played a cat and mouse games and I was left chasing him,” the fight anyone, anywhere, anytime kind of fighter told Irish-boxing.com.

“In the first few rounds there plan must of been to test me and put it on me, but that suited me and I was coming out stronger and sharper. So McDonagh and his team had a plan B. They decided to to run on the back foot a pickpocket shots. It wasn’t my kind of fight but hats off to McDonagh it did the trick, won them the fight and the Irish title.”

“It was all a learning curve for me and thats what I can take from the fight. I jumped from four rounders to 10 against a very clever and experienced fighter. Those 10 rounds and all I learnt from McDonnagh are in the bank now. After the fight he told me he beat Lee Purdy for the Southern Area title in the same fashion. He’s very clever, just one of those that can frustrate fighters to fall into his game plan.”

While Hutchinson is adopting a positive mantra and accepts jumping into an Irish title fight against a 50 plus fight veteran was always going to be a big ask, he can’t hide his disappointment.

The 27 year old had hoped to become Donegal’s first ever Irish champion and he upset the chance to make history past him by, albeit for now.

“The loss was hard to take. You  feel like you let everyone and my home town down. Donegal has never had a Irish champ before and I wanted to get the belt.  But everyone I speak to remains behind me and there are willing to do well. The support and people who travelled from all over to the fight was something special and I will never forgot it. I had the biggest support in Reading on the night. I can’t thank every enough. It’s just gives me that buzz and push to come back stronger and wiser.”

That wiser Hutchinson returns to action in Belfast on May 10 and he has an International Masters title in his sights.

“I’m boxing on Mark Dunlop’s show on May10th in Belfast for an International Master title, which is another great opportunity for me for a nice title to get.  I really can’t wait to box back in Ireland again it’s looking like a cracking bill. I’ve a few fights lined up for after May , but it’s one fight at time, I ain’t looking past my next fight in Belfast,” Hutchinson concluded.