JOE Hughes found it impossible to mask his disappointment after failing in his bid to dethrone Jack Catterall in front of his own fans on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old English super-lightweight champion, from Malmesbury, challenged Lancashire’s Catterall – rated fourth in the world by the WBO – for his WBO inter-continental belt at Bolton’s Macron Stadium but despite a gutsy display, Hughes came out on the wrong end of a unanimous 115-113, 117-112, 117-113 decision.

Hughes provided a tough obstacle for his opposite number, who is touted as one of the hottest prospects in British boxing, as he soaked up everything the 22-year-old had to offer on the night but was unable to spring an upset in front of the BoxNation cameras.

Although he did his reputation no harm, the Wiltshire fighter took little comfort in the commiserations sent his way after a spirited performance, with Hughes devastated not to have pulled off an upset in the North West.

“I’m gutted, obviously,” said the Malmesbury man, who is trained by Andy O’Kane at Padddy John’s Gym in Bristol.

“I’m happy with my performance. I prepared well for it and came to win but that didn’t work out – it is what it is.

“I tried my best. Nobody gave me any chance in the fight. They all thought I was going to get blown away easily and I think I proved them wrong in that sense.

“I didn’t get the win but I didn’t come and lie down.

“I expected to win the fight, so I didn’t do what I expected. I expected to come in and win.”

Catterall enjoyed the more success in the earlier rounds but once it became apparent that he wasn’t going to force an early stoppage, the pace of the fight slowed and Hughes began to stalk ‘El Gato’ around the ring, moving in close and exerting some pressure of his own.

However, the Lancashire man smartly tied his opponent up when necessary to prevent himself from getting into trouble.

A number of punishing salvos in the latter stages failed to perturb Hughes but Catterall had done enough to get the nod from all three ringside judges, leaving the Malmesbury fighter to plot his next move.