Jon Thaxton was outclassed by European lightweight champion Yuri Romanov before he was stopped on cuts at York Hall.
Thaxton is stunned by Romanov
Jon Thaxton failed in his bid for the European lightweight title when he was pulled out by the corner before the sixth round of his fight against Yuri Romanov.
The 33-year-old was undefeated in 12 fights since 2002 and had been calling out Commonwealth champion Amir Khan, but the step up to European level was one too far as he was outclassed by the impressive champion from Belarus.
Thaxton seemed intent on taking the fight to Romanov, opening up with crude hooks and wild swings that were largely off beam as his opponent picked his shots to good effect.
The man from Minsk had the Brit in trouble late in the second round, two left hooks forcing Thaxton onto the ropes before a big right had the veteran disorientated for a second or two.
Thaxton was fighting like the underdog he went into the fight as, looking for the big knockout punch, but it was Romanov who always looked the more likely to end the fight early.
Another solid right hand had Thaxton reeling and he ended the third session with blood smeared across his face from a nose injury, but things just got worse in the fourth when the champion opened up a nasty cut over the right eye of the Norwich hero with a sweet right cross.
Thaxton was having the better of the fifth round as Romanov retreated into his shell, but another right hand deepened the gash over the eye and with blood pouring from the wound as the bell sounded, the Briton's corner pulled their man out before the start of the sixth.
"I've got every trust and belief in my team - they're in charge, and if it's the right decision then it is the right one," he told
Sky Sports. "I never think I'm going to lose until the final decision.
"I was just getting into it, and it usually takes a few rounds. He was coming forward - but how long would he have kept coming?
"I trained very hard and I'm super upset. Of course I'll be back."
Thaxton remains the British title holder while Romanov is now likely to target Khan providing the Commonwealth champion comes through against Martin Kristjansen on Saturday night.
