No bull! Hawk to soar again after loss

BRUISED but unbowed after defeat to Jimmy Sains, Troy Coleman vowed: “You'll definitely see more of the Hawk’

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You have to admire the Burntwood middleweight’s warrior spirit. In an era in which too many boxers seek to enhance their records against inferior opposition, Coleman seeks out the best. He yearns to gamble.

At York Hall, Bethnal Green, on Friday, he again rolled the dice and this time failed. The trademark bravery wasn’t nearly enough.

Sains, now unbeaten in 11 - 10 of those wins coming inside distance - was simply too fresh, too strong and too powerful. You can add “too big” to the list: The 24-year-old Londoner looks colossal for the weight.

There was hope Sains’ record flattered to deceive, that Coleman could eventually out-bully the bully: that he could do what he did to Bradley Goldsmith last time out and survive the early storm. That hope was dashed within minutes.

Manager Errol Johnson correctly pulled Coleman out at the end of fourth after Troy had endured two rounds of heavy pressure.

Sains hit with a force that took its toll on Coleman’s features. His eyes were damaged - Troy told me his vision was impaired from the first, his nose bloody and an eardrum perforated.

Sains dragged him through a meat-grinder of malevolence.

“To an extent, I underestimated Jimmy,’ 30-year-old Coleman said. “I thought he’d be a strong bull, coming forward all the time, but his movement was class. He showed he had a different level.

“He's an evolving fighter, he’s getting better and better.