Gavin Tait lands a punch on Danny Dontchev Picture: Peter Still

By Luke Cawdell

Despite blood pouring from cuts to both eyes there was nothing that could take the grin off Gavin Tait’s face on Friday night.

The Sheerness boxer was desperate to win his rematch against Danny Dontchev and he was forced to do it in bloody conditions.

In the previous encounter between the pair at the Millennium Hotel in London they had stood toe to toe trading punches but on this occasion it was a messier affair.

Awkward Bulgarian opponent Dontchev was warned on numerous occasions by referee Ritchie Davies about using his head.

Tait, backed by a vocal following, started off at a thunderous speed but was ground down by his bulkier opponent.

A clash of heads in the first round opened up a wound above Tait’s left eye and another accidental cut in the fourth left Davies with no alternative but to end the fight and go to the scorecard.

“I completely outscored him and I showed another side to me,” said Tait, who admitted to boxing with his “heart instead of his head” in the previous meeting.

Tait bore no grudges to Dontchev.

“He was very aggressive like me and we were both clashing - It was just his style,” said Tait.

“I don’t think he was doing in deliberate. He wasn’t trying to headbut me on purposely. He is a hard style to fight against because he swings and jumps in with his head, it’s awkward.

“I am happy with the result but just wish it could have gone another couple of rounds.”