Tony Hill is already hungry for another British boxing title attempt after an accidental head clash prematurely ended his hopes of a fast track to the belt.

Hill’s Southern Area strap bout against champion Leon Senior ended in a technical draw just 21 seconds into the second round after a doctor’s inspection decided that the cut to his head was too severe to continue.

The fight was the quarter-final of the Maxi Nutrition Knockout and progression past Senior would have meant Hill claimed the Southern Area strap and, if he had won two further bouts, he would have been crowned British and English champion.

Despite optimism in the Southampton based fighter’s camp, the competition ended in disappointment and could have seen the Millbank Gym boxer take a break.

But not Hill, who, according to his trainer Wayne Batten, is as focused as ever at reaching his full potential.

“It was disappointing but that’s boxing, you can’t be prepared for every eventuality,” Batten said.

“It wasn’t a good measure of his ability and obviously without the cut to his head it would have been a very different story.

“I’ve spoken to Tony and he is very positive and looking forward to getting back in training once his stitches come out.

“There will be another opportunity to win the British title. It is early doors in his light heavyweight career still and we’ve got time, I’m really happy about how positive Tony is about everything.

“We were so confident going into the Senior bout and the whole competition but we will get back in the gym and continue the hard work we were already doing.”

On the same bill Basingstoke’s Dean Francis suffered a points loss to Bob Ajisafe for the British title.