John Thain goes to ten out of ten with win

The 25-year-old was fighting in his tenth professional bout of his career and was awarded victory by the smallest of margins, 77 points to Toms’ 76.

Thain, who trains at Lochend Boxing Club, was pleased to emerge from his first experience of fighting eight rounds with a win – a decision he  believes was fully justified.

“It was good to get eight rounds in but I felt fit,” Thain said. “I’ve only done four or six rounds previously so that was pleasing. It was a close fight but I think the referee got it right. It was a great experience for me and I think I will become a better fighter for it. It was a step up in class from my previous opponents so it’s been a huge learning curve for me, but you want to be tested.

“I’ve had ten pro fights now and have managed to win them all. It’s not been easy but I feel I deserve it. It’s going to get harder now and the opponents are getting stronger, but if I want to be champion then that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Thain disclosed promoter Frank Warren did offer some words of encouragement to the Edinburgh boxer after his most recent victory.

He said: “He (Frank Warren) was good and said it was a tough fight for me. But he said it was all about learning and developing as a boxer and hopes that I will be boxing again in June.”

Former two-time world Scottish champion Scott Harrison was defeated by Liam Walsh in the evening’s WBO European lightweight title, and Nathan Cleverly made a fifth defence of his WBO world light-heavyweight title after overseeing  opponent Robin Krasniqi.