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BENDIGO boxer Damien Lock intends to let the dust settle before deciding on his next move in the sport.
The 39-year-old returned to the winners’ list at Saturday night’s huge Battle on the Goldfields 3 professional boxing show at Bendigo Stadium with a bruising win over six rounds against Joshua Butler.
His victory arrested a small, two-fight losing streak and moved the former Carlton AFL midfielder and high-profile central Victorian football identity's record to three wins, four losses, with one draw.
Lock was a late convert to boxing. He took up the sport in his 30s and only turned professional when 37.
The middleweight was understandably stoked by getting a win in front of a thunderous home crowd at the newly redeveloped stadium.
“It had been a while since I had a win – I’ve had some pretty hard fights over the last year and a bit, so it was good to get a win in front of a big home crowd,” he said.
“It was a very tough fight. I got caught with a few shots and I also got caught with a couple of head-butts – one cut me open pretty badly, but it managed to hold together for the fight.
“I came out of it with a few bruises.”
It was Lock’s second win from two fights against Butler, who he defeated in Melbourne in December 2016.
“It was a pretty similar fight, there was a lot of holding,” he said.
“It was a tough, rugged fight and I knew that was going to be the case.
“Josh is hard and he always comes to fight, but I was just rapt to get the win.
“It was an awesome feeling walking out in front of so many family and friends – it was a real buzz.”
Lock hinted in the weeks before the bout that the clash with Butler might be his last, but added no decision had been made.
“I am just going to play it by ear – you’re a long-time retired,” he said.
“I am just going to enjoy a break for now and sit back and relax and we’ll weigh it up in a few weeks.”
Lock was doubly-delighted for fellow Tribe Boxing fighter Lorrinda Webb, who scored a win in her debut as a professional against Nadya Nakhoir, from Indonesia.
“She has put so much hard work in over the last few years, to come out and execute the plan like she did and get a fourth round stoppage was awesome to see,” he said.
“I think there’s big things ahead for Lorrinda.
“It was a good night for the gym to get two wins.”
Lock and Webb are trained by Scott Tuddenham, who was initially set to fight on the card, but had to withdraw after injuring his wrist in the lead-up.
The Lock and Webb bouts were on the under-card of dual main events, which were highlighted by wins by two of Australia’s hottest boxing prospects Tim Tszyu and Andrew Moloney.