IN a tough night at the office, Mount Gambier boxer Bobby “Trigger” Trigg lost his Australian bantamweight title to Mark Schleibs at the Melbourne Pavilion Friday night.
The two fighters faced off in the main event on the night, with a unanimous points decision going the way of the challenger after an intense contest.
Trigg was cut above the left eye in the sixth round, but with no blood running into his eye he pushed on and took the fight up to Schleibs for the remaining four rounds.
At the end of the night the bout was touted as the fight of the year by some pundits, such was the intensity.
It was something Trigg said caught him by surprise somewhat.
“I expected him to slow down a bit towards the end, but he kept going, kept it up,” Trigg said.
“I never expected to get cut, but I didn’t let it bother me too much.”
Trigg said he was disappointed with the final result, but did not intend to make excuses.
He said Schleibs was the better boxer on the night, with the decision the correct one.
“It would be one of the hardest fights I have had,” he said.
“It was pretty intense.”
Trigg’s trainer Colin Cassidy said from the first bell the two fighters went toe-to-toe, with neither slowing down for the full 10 rounds.
“It made the night, because the other fights weren’t as good,” he said.
“It was such a great fight.
“The only time you should be annoyed about losing is if you have anything left at the end.
“Bob didn’t have anything left, nor did the other guy.
“It was just a really good fight.
“You wouldn’t see too many of them like that.”
Cassidy said there were times when he thought Trigg had the advantage, but to Schleibs’ credit, he fought off the ropes and hit back hard.
“We don’t want to take anything away from him (Schleibs),” he said.
“It was such a close fight.
“Bob did a lot of work, but right at the end he got caught by a couple of long clean punches.
“We certainly wouldn’t argue with the decision.”
At the end of the night Cassidy challenged Schleibs’ camp to a rematch, which he said they accepted.
A date has not been confirmed at this stage.
