THE result wasn't what Jess Messina was looking for, but she managed to take plenty of positives out of her points' decision loss to Indian Lovlina Borgohain.
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Messina was beaten in Bulgaria by the world number three and instead of kicking stones she preferred to take a philosophical approach.
"It's never a failure, it's always a lesson," Messina said.
"A win would have been ideal, but I put into action the things I've been learning in the last few months and learned a bit more."
The 26-year-old admitted she was satisfied with some aspects of her fight although there were others she needed to work on.
"Some things worked, others not so much," she said.
"I know I can do things differently, I can adapt and I do have different types of skills and skill sets that with more development will make me a more rounded boxer."
Borgohain won a bronze medal for India at the 2018 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships.
While disappointed not to get the result, Messina said it was another step on the path towards Tokyo 2020.
"The girl I came up against, she was a bronze medallist at the world's so it's not like I was fighting a nobody," she said.
"I fought a really quality opponent and fought really well. I just didn't get the win.
"It's not a step backwards (towards Tokyo) at all; it's good to get that time and experience with those kind of fighters."
Messina said Borgohain's ability didn't surprise her, she was simply unable to execute her plans.
"I need to keep going as I am and just practice more things and get more comfortable with all the things I am learning," she said.
"I need to make sure that when I am in a fight the new things I am learning now come naturally and I don't have to think about it.
"I'm disappointed not to get the win, progress more and get a couple more fights under my belt.
"But overall with how I performed for that fight I thought I did pretty well."
Messina is now at home for six weeks before her next bout in Serbia.
"After any bout it doesn't have to be a loss or a win (that is important), every time you fight you want to be better.
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