Matt Skelton's boxing future is in doubt after the finest performance of his brief career.
Skelton came close to beating Ruslan Chagaev for the WBA heavyweight title in Dusseldorf last night in a fight he was expected to lose easily.
The first half of last night's tough 12-rounder was close but the champion pulled clear in the second half and at the end of 12 rounds all three judges gave the decision to Chagaev.
"I'm disappointed because I feel that I have let people down," said Skelton. "I don't know what I will do now.
"I will sit down with my team and take a long hard look at my future. The aim was to come here and win and I'd like to be a winner not a loser."
There were moments in the first four or five rounds when Skelton's jab and size were clearly causing Chagaev some problems.
But in round eight Skelton lost a point for hitting and holding and from then until the final bell Chagaev dominated.
"I knew Skelton would be tough but I had no idea he would be that tough," said Chagaev.
Skelton's remarkable pro boxing career started only five years ago when he was 35 and he has since won the British and Commonwealth titles.
"He was very technical and I guess that was the difference between us," added Skelton.
"There was no problem with my heart, but that just wasn't enough."
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JONATHAN PEARCE
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE