Disappointed Zeeshan Khan has vowed to bounce back from losing in the final of the recent national novice championships.

The 15-year-old, who boxes for top-notch Barkerend amateurs Karmand, saw his title dream crushed in the 54kg division at Knottingley Leisure Centre.

Khan went down 19-8 to Durham southpaw Peter Cope, although his trainer Dave Cariss claimed the bout was far tighter than the one-sided scoreline suggests.

"I'm not grumbling about the decision because the other lad did deserve it but it sounds like he won it easily and there was no way that happened," said Cariss.

"When we got out of the ring, all the officials said they had scored it much closer. Zeeshan even broke the lad's nose.

"He was the first southpaw Zeeshan had fought, which gave him a few problems at first, but the scoring was 8-3 after the first round and 14-3 after the second.

"They weren't scoring Zeeshan yet their lad's nose had swelled up like a tomato!"

Khan is no mug and has ambitions to become a solicitor - and he is confident of having Cope's number should the pair meet again.

"Zeeshan was obviously a bit disappointed, we all were, but he is determined to come back and he will do," said Cariss.

"He has done well to get his first final and we'll see what happens now but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back again next year."