Carshalton boxer Tony Owen has been backed to rebuild his career after getting it all wrong in his big fight.

In front of millions of fight fans on Eurosport, Owen challenged top-10 ranked Ben Murphy for the Southern Area lightweight championship on Friday and was beaten in four rounds.

Had he won, Owen could have been set for a British or Commonwealth title in his next fight but will now have to sit and watch Murphy take that honour.

“Tony got it wrong on the night," said his manager Mickey Helliet.

“He knew what he had to do, but got sucked into fighting Murphy’s type of fight.

"He fell into the trap of having a punch up instead of boxing and he will learn from this.

"Murphy has to be one of the most under-rated boxers in Britain and Tony took the defeat gracefully - I know he can come back from this.”

Owen had started well, opening a cut on Murphy’s right eyebrow in the opening round and in the second his opponent was docked a point by the referee for a head butt.

But, towards the end of the third, Owen looked to be feeling the effects of trying to stay with Murphy and, midway through the fourth, he was trapped on the ropes and when his gum shield was knocked out by a heavy-handed blow, the referee stepped in and ended the fight.