Jane Couch is confident exciting young Bristol boxer Danny Butler will learn from defeat at the hands of wily Midlander Darren McDermott.

Butler's charge up the British middleweight rankings was checked when the 22-year-old's challenge for the English title ended in bitter failure on a Sky-televised Hatton Promotions bill at the Fenton manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on-Trent at the weekend.

Although Butler had youth and fitness on his side against the 31-year-old champion, McDermott simply knew too much in carving out a narrow 96-95 victory on points over 10 compulsive rounds.

But six-times women's world champion Couch, who promoted Butler during the formative stage of his career, insists the Bristolian will benefit in the long term.

Speaking in the aftermath of her protégé's second defeat in 20 paid outings, Couch said: "Danny can hold his head up high and be proud of himself after that performance.

"It's obvious he is still learning and he still has a way to go before he can take on and beat the top guys in the division. Maybe this fight came a bit too soon for him.

"He's going to be very disappointed, because it was such a close fight and it could have gone the other way. But this will be a massive learning fight for him and, when he watches it back on the video, he will see where he needs to improve."

McDermott was taller than the challenger, packed a heavier punch and relied on the tricks learned during a 10-year career when the going became tough during the second half of the contest, holding, spoiling and hitting on the break to frustrate the younger man. In the final analysis, the right cross which sent Butler to the canvas, albeit briefly, for the first time in his career in the fifth round, proved decisive.

"He was simply too experienced for Danny," acknowledged Couch. "But it's only by going in with fighters like that that you learn.

"Danny was slow to get going and McDermott took advantage and imposed himself. Danny was clearly fitter and quicker, but Darren boxed clever and used his experience to keep out of trouble.

"We felt the referee could have done a bit more to help Danny, but he has to put it down to experience. I'm sure he will learn a lot from this fight and he will come back better and wiser than before.

"He needs to take a rest right now and then get back into the gym and start putting what he has learned into practice. He is still young and there is plenty of time for him to come back from this. It's only a minor setback."