Charlie Edwards' world title fight with IBF flyweight champion John Riel Casimero ended with a convincing 10th-round knockout defeat that suggested the chance had come too early in his career.
The 23-year-old, in only his ninth professional fight, did well to return to his feet after a big left hook landed directly on his chin and sent him to the canvas.
Remaining unsteady, referee Steve Gray waved the action over after one minute and 57 seconds of the 10th when another combination left him in no position to continue.
Filipino Casimero's threat became evident in the competitive opening rounds when he threw, and missed, with several wild punches.
The first that landed wobbled Edwards in the fourth, and several more began to break down the Briton's defence from the seventh.
With the challenger appearing one-dimensional and simply not looking either seasoned or strong enough to recover from a losing position, another big right in the 10th troubled him, shortly before the left that secured the stoppage.
Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, earlier earned the fourth victory of his professional career when he stopped Joe Ducker in the second round. A right-left combination concluded the fight after 24 seconds of the second, after two knockdowns in the first.
Kid Galahad also secured his second win after his suspension for an anti-doping violation with a fourth-round stoppage of Emiliano Salvini. He had also put the Italian down in the third.
Source: PA
