Jermaine Dhliwayo with coach CJ Hussein

DEFEAT never lands easy, especially when it comes on one of the biggest stages of all.

But Jermaine Dhliwayo has been urged to overcome his heartache and “hold his head up high” after suffering a rare loss on Saturday in the final of the England Boxing National Amateur Championships, formerly known as the ABAs.

The highly-rated St Pancras ABC prospect had every reason to be confident when he stepped between the ropes at the Derby Arena, having beaten some of the best in the business on his way to winning the London title, and then working his way to Saturday’s showpiece final.

But the 22-year-old “just wasn’t himself” in his tough Under-60kg bout against Leigh Boxing’s Will Hewitt as he was unanimously beaten over three rounds.

Sharing the blame, Saints head coach CJ Hussein said: “The result was my fault, I told Jermaine to box in a certain way and it clearly didn’t work.

“He did everything that was asked of him and more. He’s been fantastic and should hold his head up high. He’s won back-to-back London titles and made it to a national final – nobody can take that away from him.”

Assessing the result, CJ added: “Jermaine just wasn’t himself, maybe the occasion got to him a little. But I don’t care what anyone says, that was not a unanimous decision.

“I’m not a biased coach and can take it if a kid loses. But to say Jermaine lost every round… for me, that was a poor decision.”