John Ryder’s trainer says the Islington fighter can benefit in the long term from his narrow points defeat by British middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders.

Ryder yielded his unbeaten record after a closely-contested 12 rounds at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, with Saunders gaining the verdict from all three judges.

Colin Lake, who has worked with the 25-year-old southpaw since his amateur days at Angel ABC, felt the decision should have gone his man’s way.

But he also believes Ryder is well equipped to bounce back from the first defeat of his professional career, whether or not that involves a rematch with Saunders.

“I think there will be a return match in time, somewhere down the line – if they’ll have it,” Lake told the Gazette. “Either way, John will come on a bomb after that fight.

“It’s good experience for him and it’ll pay dividends – it’s given him more confidence that he can go 12 rounds quite easily in future. He worked really hard and he wasn’t blowing or anything.

“I thought John was the winner, for his pressure and work-rate – he was doing all the attacking and he had Saunders going a few times. For me he won eight of the 12 rounds.

“John’s going away for a week or so, just to chill out, and when he’s back we’ll sit down and talk with his manager, Tony Sims, and see what comes up next.”