Saundre “Dash” Simmons has expressed his disappointment at missing the chance to showcase his talent against Kirra Ruston in Australia on Wednesday.

Simmons was defeated by Ruston in the first round of his IBF Pan Pacific light-heavyweight title fight.

“I’m not mad because I lost, I’m mad because I didn’t get the opportunity to show my skill,” Simmons told The Royal Gazette.

“I’m mad because I’m not beat up. I’d rather be beat up but I lost and there ain’t nothing wrong with me ― no black eye, no swelling on my face and no headaches.

“If you watch the full fight I was definitely winning that round. When that jab was landed, I landed it heavy and I wrapped the right hand around his body. All those punches he landed on me before the fight ended, I think only two counted for something. I blocked most of them.”

Simmons also took issue with the stoppage and is adamant a different referee might not have brought the fight to such an abrupt end..

“I don’t think that they would have stopped it if it was in America,” he said. “I don’t think they would have stopped it if it was another ref because he asked me if I was OK and I said yes.

“He trapped me on the ropes for two seconds, but I got out of it. I wasn’t hurt, that’s what I was telling the ref and I was still willing to fight.

“The call was too early for me but at the end of the day I put myself in a position where the referee had the ability to make that call and I take responsibility for that.

“Fighting is a huge part of who I am. Losing sucks but a lesson is a lesson and it was not my first, this isn’t the ending..”

With a 9-1 record, the North Carolina-based fighter believes it might be easier to secure future fights as his previous stats could have proved intimidating to potential opponents.

“It’s back to the drawing board,” Simmons said.

“I just have to earn another shot like that again. I’m hoping with a loss to my record it’ll be much easier now because people were scared to fight against me before.

“If that’s the way it works, I’m OK with that as long as I get a chance to prove myself. “When I get home it’s back to the gym because I’m perfectly fine and I need to stay in shape while waiting for my next fight.

“I get better after losses. My last loss, I turned it into a pro career, so it’s only up for me.”

The 29-year-old, who enjoys a great following on social media from Bermudians, thanked all those who stood by him before and after the fight.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me, believed in me, checked on me, prayed for me and stood behind me through this journey,” he added.

“I felt every bit of it and I’m genuinely grateful. No Limit Boxing, thank you for the experience in a beautiful country.”