A month after lapping up the plaudits by toppling multiple national champion Kahukua Bentson to win the North Island Golden Gloves crown, Tauranga Boxing Gym's Jamie Price landed back on the canvas after losing to his regular sparring partner at the Central North Island championships in Tauranga.
After easily disposing of Palmerston North's Harley Ward, with the referee stopping the fight in the second round so a bloodied Ward could get attention, 22-year-old Price was beaten by Joseph Otterson, who had an easy first round win over Waikuku's Matt McLeod.
Otterson was stronger over their three-round elite middleweight title fight, getting the win 12-11. Both fighters are trained by Chris Walker, who gave them the option of opting out of their bout.
"Chris said it was entirely up to us whether we got in the ring together or not, but we both took the attitude we were going to meet each other at some stage in the future anyway so we might as well get it over and done with," Price said.
"Joe done well, I'm glad he won the fight. He definitely threw the cleaner punches and irritated me, and if you're going to lose it's probably not a bad thing for it to be against a guy from your own gym."
Price's 17-16 defeat of Bentson in Taupo last month was a huge fillip to a burgeoning amateur career that started seven years ago in the UK, with Saturday's CNI final lacking the edge.
"There weren't the nerves you'd usually associate with a tournament fight - it was too comfortable and I wasn't alert against a guy I'd sparred for so long against," Price said. "I couldn't help laughing and was being a bit silly as well. I landed a low blow on Joe and laughed my head off and he had a go at me, and it's a shame I couldn't give him a better fight."
Saturday's hit out, which attracted 35 boxers from around the North Island was mileage under the belt ahead of the national amateur champs in Auckland later in the year.
Price began boxing as a 15-year-old growing up in Hertfordshire, near London, and had amassed eight fights when his parents decided to shift the family to New Zealand. Price was devastated.
"I came only because my parents forced me into it. I was 17 at the time and it was one of those things I didn't want to do, although as it's turned out it's been a top move.
"As far as boxing goes I'd just started out and was starting to grasp the basics. I had plenty to work on and didn't think there would be anything on offer here as far as boxing goes. As it turns out it's actually a pretty good amateur scene here."
Price has his sights set on a national middleweight title, although in Otterson he's got a new foe to look out for, along with Bentson and hard-hitting Nipha Jones, but would love to follow the path of rising Tauranga professional Gunnar Jackson and give the paid ranks a lash at some stage.
"When that is I don't know, I guess once you've beaten best amateurs around in New Zealand you have a go at the Aussies and then join the pro game. I love my boxing and will be doing it for a long time yet so there's no rush."
Otterson's title was the only one for Walker's three-strong contingent, with CNI champs organiser Hemi Niha's success coming in the men's youth division, with Hayden Lewis dominating Te Awamutu's Reuben Libline 18-8 to win the 69kg grade.