IN what was only supposed to be a warm-up for his Southern Area title shot, Watford boxer Ojay Abrahams was beaten, Thursday June 21, in a controversial points decision.

He was outpointed over four rounds by Charden Ansoula, fighting out of France by way of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His original opponent, Leigh Wicks, had pulled out of the fight because of an injury in training.

Abrahams, who recently became the first professional champion Watford has produced for nearly 50 years, was visibly shocked when the referee awarded the fight to his opponent.

In his dressing room afterwards, he said: "I did not think it was any less than a draw.I was robbed. I have taken too many fights before the Southern Area shot and I have come unstuck.

"It is a controversial decision and that is something that has happened throughout my career. There is no way I lost that fight."

After a close and scrappy contest, it was impossible to separate the two men, and Abrahams had good reason to feel aggrieved. However, he did not do enough to win the bout, either, and a draw would have been the fairest result.

Throughout the fight, Abrahams failed to work off the jab and this made for a messy contest in which it was difficult to score. He relied on his left hook and at times he could have done with more variation.

Later, he admitted he found Ansoula difficult to hit. He said: "He was a slippery customer. He was a mover. I had him on the hook but I let him off, even though he was tiring towards the end."

Despite some good work from the Frenchman, Abrahams was the stronger man from the start and he always looked the more likely to end the fight quickly.

While Ansoula flicked out his jab throughout, Abrahams landed often enough with some good left hooks to deserve a share of the first two rounds.

The Watford boxer stepped up the pace in the third round, wobbling Ansoula with two powerful left hooks to go ahead on my scorecard.

The fourth round was the first time Abrahams started to work his jab, but some good combinations from Ansoula cost the Watford boxer the round and, at least on the referee's scorecard, the fight.

However, Abrahams is confident the setback will not cost him his chance at the Southern Area title.

He said: "I have been told by somebody from the British Boxing Board of Control that I am still the number one contender for the Southern Area title. Now I will have a rest.

"Something is brewing really big and I would ask people to watch this space."