Boxer Miles Shinkwin is not making any rash decisions about his future after losing his English light-heavyweight title on a split decision to challenger Kirk Garvey at York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday.

The result was seen as a controversial one by most, including the Bushey fighter, who said he has thought about the moment he lost his title every night since.

He said: “Since the fight, all I can hear at nights is the announcer saying ‘and’ but then instead of saying ‘still champion’, he says ‘and the new…’ it’s not a nice feeling. It’s a horrible feeling.

“When the bell went I had no doubt in my mind I had won the fight. Not a single doubt. Then my team were in the ring, they all seemed confident that I was up by two, or three.

“His brother thought I’d won, his cut man told my cut man they thought I was up by two, so it’s not like a one sided thing where all my team think I won, it’s from his side too saying it.”

Prior to the fight, Shinkwin had discussed the possibility of it being his last and now, with a bit of time to relax and think about his future, he is still undecided on whether or not he has stepped into the ring for the final time.

“I’m not into making rash decisions. Most fighters after a fight would say, that’s it, but I’m not going to start saying that,” he said.

“I’ve got a pretty bad cut, I’ve got eight stitches in my eye, so that’s going to take a good while to heal up. I’ve been in the gym for seven months now, eight months really, so I’m probably due a rest anyway, especially after a hard fight like that. I’m not going to be silly, I’ll wait and see if the phone rings. If nothing happens, that probably will be it.

“I’m not going to sit here and say that I won the fight by a mile because that wasn’t the case. I don’t think it was a robbery, but I wish I’d have won the fight. It would be a tough one to swallow to retire after that, but I’m sure I’d get over it eventually.

“When people are judging fights, I’m not sure they take into account that this is people’s lives at stake. This is my life, this is all I’ve ever known.

“I’m a plumber by trade so I can make a living without being punched in the face.”

Regardless of whether or not he has finished his career, Shinkwin still wants to be involved in the sport and is already helping to mould the next generation of fighters.

He said: “I’ve started in the last few months at my amateur club, Bushey, helping out the kids. When I was younger, there was plenty of blokes down there helping me get to where I am now.

“There’s nothing better than experience to help you develop. As an amateur I toured the world for England and as a pro I’ve got to the title level and won a couple of titles as a pro.

"Maybe I haven’t achieved what I should have achieved. I would like to think the kids can look to where I’ve got to and think, ‘if he can do it, I can win titles and go pro and do it'.”