Brophy beaten but can return stronger Trainer Nelson believes his man has a big future

David Brophy has been backed to challenge at the top level again – despite being stopped in the first round by Rocky Fielding.

The Caldercruix boxer suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the Liverpool Echo Arena last Saturday night to hometown hero Fielding – who left with both the British super-middleweight title and Brophy’s Commonwealth strap after the victory in under three minutes.

Trainer Billy Nelson believes that Brophy still has a big future despite the tough loss.

He felt the a shot to the top of the head changed the fight, but admits the Monklands fighter is “devastated” to have been beaten for the second time in his career.

He continued: “In sparring he looked fantastic and has went up against some top-quality guys. We were really confident going into the fight.

“He goes in there and then he gets caught on the temple and his senses are gone. That changes the fight completely.

“I think it’s an unintentional punch from Rocky, I don’t believe he is that kind of fighter. It’s just one of those things.

“We had talked about what to do to stop himself getting hit, and unfortunately he got caught.

“The game plan goes out the window after that.”

Nelson insists Brophy will come back and should aim to face-off against another British rival in the near future.

“It’s something David will learn from,” Nelson told the Advertiser.

“He’s disappointed just now. We were fully confident that we were coming back with both titles.

“He is a good fighter, he just didn’t get a chance to show himself like he would have wanted to.

“He will pick himself up and we will go back to work.

“I still think he is good enough to go up against anyone in Britain.”

Defeated David Brophy suffered a first-round defeat to Rocky Fielding