GOODNESS knows what John McCallum’s employers will make of their new recruit when he reports for work with the Lloyds Banking group this morning.

McCallum had hoped to appear bright eyed and bushy tailed in an effort to make a favourable impression. Instead, he is likely to attract quite a few stares, given the state of his face.

The 27-year-old Edinburgh boxer is sporting a dozen stitches after suffering a nasty injury to his left eye following a clash of heads in the second round of his British title eliminator at London’s York Hall at the weekend.

McCallum was unable to say with certainty that his opponent, the former Premiership striker Leon McKenzie, had inflicted the damage by foul means, but regardless of whether it was by accident or design, the injury was pivotal in his downfall.

Despite carrying on, McCallum’s brave effort proved fruitless when the ring doctor refused to allow him to continue beyond the sixth round, for fear he might suffer complications.

By then McCallum’s left eye had closed over completely and he was also further hampered by blood streaming from the wound and blurring what vision he had been left with.

McCallum, who suffered his first loss in eight contests after compiling a 100 per cent record, revealed yesterday: “Even though I was handicapped, I was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, so, naturally, I wanted to carry on.

“I will admit that I was in a bit of a state, but I was gutted when the doctor wouldn’t let me continue.

“I had to go to hospital, where I had 12 stitches, seven above my eye and five below. I cannot say for sure if it was accidental, but McKenzie was no better than I thought he would be.

“I was landing my shots and hurting him with my right hand, so I had the beating of him until I got unlucky. So, while I am bitterly disappointed, there’s no need for me to feel negative about my performance.

“What’s hard to cope with is the fact that I had my dream taken away from me because of bad luck. Had he knocked me out or had I been outclassed that would have been fair enough, but that wasn’t the case.”

He added: “Being inactive for 18 months and then moving up three weight divisions straight into a British title eliminator was not ideal. If I had kept busy and been sharper maybe I would have avoided a head clash.”

Meanwhile, McKenzie, 37, who saw service with Crystal Palace and Norwich City, among others, before switching sports, will now face the winner of next month’s bout between Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding for the vacant championship belt.