Defiant Hamilton boxer Jordan Grant says the Scottish title is ‘his’ this year, and that he can only learn from defeat against John Docherty at the Hydro.
The 24-year-old light-welterweight went down in the second round against Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Docherty, but says that only shows him where he is as a fighter, and is determined to improve.
Grant took the chance to box in the Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall undercard on Saturday night, and stepped up when others wouldn’t.
He said: “I was happy that I took the fight on and saw what level I’m at just now, but he’s a full-time professional, he’s British level as well, so it was good to take the step up.
“I took the step up when nobody else really wanted to. It was a good opportunity, but it humbles me, it makes me realise what level I’m at just now.
“But I’ll go back and I’ll win the Scottish title this year – mark my words.
“The Scottish title is mine this year. I’ve got it in my head and that’s what I’m going for this year, 100 per cent.
“Then I’ll push on and I’ll see where I am, but to be perfectly honest he caught me with boxing’s perfect shot – there’s not much I could have done.”
Grant added: “I was in the fight. In the first round I felt I was all right, he was never going to knock me out, he was never going to take me out with head shots.
"But when he caught me with the body shot there’s not much that I could have done – that’s what they say, it’s boxing’s ‘sweet spot’.
“Fair play to him, I wish him all the best, he’s honestly a top operator.
“It was a good learning experience. I’ve been there, and I’ve fought at the Hydro now, so I’ve been under the lights in a big arena and it will not be a surprise the next time, if I get an opportunity again.
“I hope the opportunities come – people don’t realise how tricky John Docherty is, that was a tough fight for me to take on, especially with the experience he’s got.
“If people think they fancy fighting me, they’re still in for a hard night.”
Grant is next in action on April 23 at Braehead Arena in the undercard for Hannah Rankin’s WBA and IBO super-welterweight titles defence against Mexican Alejandra Ayala.
The Priestfield ABC fighter said: “Hopefully everybody in Hamilton will get behind me and come and support me at it.
“I still want this to be a big year, and it still will be a big year. It wasn’t obviously the outcome I wanted, but I have to realise where John is in his career and how good he is, while I’m still relatively a novice.
“But do you know what? It’s an experience and I’ll learn from it.”
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