Martin Welsh believes a trio of losses on his record will only serve to make him stronger.

The Swanley boxer (pictured) is in the middle of a four week lay-off after receiving stitches following defeat to Mark Thompson a fortnight ago.

It was his fourth bout in a five-week spell, which started with a win against Tomasz Mazurkiewicz in March, as the 31-year-old sets about making a name for himself.

He said: "I have been taking fights at short notice against boxers with unbeaten records and I just haven’t had the luck.

"I was disqualified in the fight against Rick Godding (for using his head) and that should never have been stopped and then I went over to Ireland for an eight-round bout against John O’Donnell. Then in Liverpool (against Thompson) I lost by two rounds on the referee’s scorecard, although the Sky TV pundits had it down as a draw.

"I am taking fights that nobody else wants. I am learning the trade and I am taking on fighters with good records who are going for titles. I can only learn from the best and I am fighting the best.

"I have been in with Brian Rose (British light-middleweight champion), O’Donnell (British welterweight title challenger) and Thompson who went into that fight with 14 KOs on his record. He was the knockout king and I was in there pushing him around.

"I am not just sitting around on my bum fighting every two months against Latvians or Poles and the like to just to have an unbeaten record.

"I am fighting at a weight above my natural welterweight level and in two of those last three fights I should have come away with something."