Boxers win, boxers lose and some boxers draw. However, this was always more than simply about boxing, about two men, merely fighting to victoriously over three rounds.
This was for Nigel Paul a test of will and in the end it was inexperience that proved to be his undoing when he was knocked out late in the first round of his super heavyweight bout against Nigeria's Efe Ajagba yesterday.Paul of Chaguanas, dropped his guard for a split-second and the African champion with over 120 bouts under his belt, made him pay.
"It was a rookie mistake. I just left my guard down and he punished me. It hurts because we worked on this, we know he has a right hand and I made a mistake which cost me," Paul told the Sunday Guardian after the bout.
"When I was on the ground all I was thinking was how upset (Floyd) Trumpet would be with me because he told me to watch his right hand and I paid the price for disobeying my coach's instructions.
"I am sad to have disappointed my country and so many persons who gave me support. I am not sure what is next. I will talk with my coach and the team. I know I let them down tonight (last night), it's a hard lesson to learn because I wanted that record to win a first Olympic fight."
Paul, a basketballer turned boxer 15 months ago explained: "I am feeling okay. I will just visit the medical team and I am looking forward to going home and starting over.
"I have to improve and get better if I want to be the best and I can be the best. This will not stop me."
Trumpet speaking exclusively to the Sunday Guardian said: "We worked on this all the time but it happens. He only has 14 fights and all these guys have over 100 fights so he has to learn quick, that is why at the age of 27, we have some offers on the table for him to turn professional, based on what he was doing and his sparring sessions in the USA recently, and we will discuss his future and most likely go to Miami, USA, to train."
According to Trumpet a former professional standout: "Nigel did some sparring with American Shannon Briggs from the USA Heavyweight Factory. We were actually based with Contenders Gym, that trained former world champion Britain's Lennox Lewis, we did some sparring with Luis King, King Ortiz and others and they were all amazed by his ability with such little experience."
A modest Trumpet said: "Any coach would have done with Nigel, what I have done because he's coachable and he's a very dedicated athlete. He has to chart his future from here on. One good thing about Nigel is that he listens to advice a lot, but tonight it just went wrong and that's because of a lack of competitive experience. I am fully in support of him."