“I wasn’t really expecting the aggressiveness and strength from him [Chanajan]. My weight and strength wasn’t too much of a problem for him,” he said.

Priestley met Chanajan in the ring at the RSL Club in Paddington last Friday night, where the pair boxed it out for the full four rounds.

Despite his disappointment with the result, the southpaw boxer said the judges made a fair decision.

“It was a close fight. I couldn’t find my rhythm until much later in the night: I became more frustrated as the rounds went on.”

The bout marked the first time Priestley has stepped into the boxing ring since his win against Praong Wichuma, almost nine months ago. He admitted it’s the longest break he’s had between fights.

“I could’ve had a bit of ring rust,” Priestley said.

“I did feel a bit out of place, only because I haven’t been there [boxing] for so long.”

Although Priestley managed to connect against Chanajan on multiple occasions, he said his opponent was the more aggressive boxer.

“The first round was normal: we went into it [the fight] to just feel each other out. Then in the second round he picked it up. I couldn’t keep the right distance and land the punches.

“I would throw three or four punches and he would follow me and catch me on my way out.”

The Moree-product has one win and three losses to his name. He said he is already eyeing another fight in around 10 weeks.

In the meantime, he said would work more on his defence and ring control.

“I think I will be a lot more switched on for the next fight,” he said.