Miles Shinkwin will pursue a rematch with Liam Conroy after suffering a controversial English title defeat on Saturday.

The Bushey light-heavyweight was stopped in the second round of the bout at Preston’s Guild Hall, but took exception to taking a number of punches to the back of the head.

Conroy appeared to strike Shinkwin illegally in the build up to the stoppage but referee Shaun Messer failed to step in.

With Shinkwin claiming the fight was make or break and defeat could signal the end of his career, the 29-year-old was understandably angered by the loss.

“Without a doubt I want a rematch. We made an offer on Sunday which was turned down, so now we are going to pursue the board and deal with it properly,” Shinkwin said.

“I have never had a problem with a ref and never felt one has done a bad job until this fight. When it happens quickly I understand that, but it was 11 shots to the back of my head.

“I have watched it back about 40 times and I get more infuriated every time. It is not just one night, it is the last 10 weeks of training and my whole life.

“I have been in the gym since I was three and I am 29, so 26 years have led to that fight and the point where I might retire.”

Shinkwin has been engaged in a heated exchange with Conroy over Twitter since the fight and the Cumbrian insists the punches Shinkwin has taken exception to were legal.

Whether or not a rematch takes place lies firmly in Conroy’s hands and he could well turn down Shinkwin’s proposal.

From Shinkwin’s point of view, it is impossible to think of any alternative other than facing Conroy again, but he accepts the future is out of his control.

“I can’t see past a rematch and if it was the other way around I would not want to leave it like that,” he said.

“He’ll know deep down where the punches landed and will want to go again. It is not my call but I know what I would be doing if I were him.”

The irritation which came with the unsavoury ending to the evening was only heightened by a pre-fight briefing from the referee which included a warning about shots to the back of the head.

Shinkwin says missing out on the English title for the third time in his career in such a manner adds to the disappointment.

“Before the fight the referee came into the changing room and told us three things; obey my demands, nothing below the belt and no hitting the back of the head,” he said.

“It p****s me off and it p*****s the opponent off, those were his words.

“It was such a big fight for me personally because it was win or bust for me. I have said I would love to win the English title and it is a step up the ladder.

“I controlled the first round with ease and as a fighter I get better as the fight goes on. To set the tone in the first round means it was only going to get better for me.”