Saturday 4 November 2017 20:25, UK
Jamie McDonnell kept his WBA 'regular' bantamweight title after an accidental head-clash resulted in his rematch with Liborio Solis being stopped on the instruction of the doctor and ending in a no decision in the third round.
The Doncaster fighter won the first encounter 12 months ago after a controversial points victory, but was unable to silence any criticism given the early stoppage in what is likely to be his last fight at the weight.
Both fighters tried to assert their authority in the centre of the ring from the off, but it was the challenger who had the better of the opening exchanges, piercing McDonnell's defences with a jab-right hand followed by noticeable attacks to the body.
Solis then drew blood from the nose of the champion in the second, but a solid left hook from McDonnell brought him his first piece of success in the contest. The Brit then started to utilise his reach advantage and find his range with his jab as the fight started to warm-up.
An accidental clash of heads at the start of the third left McDonnell with a cut above his left eye and the worse of the two fighters. Toe-to-toe action immediately ensued, but with 10 seconds of the round remaining, the doctor advised that the fight be stopped, with the result an unsatisfactory no decision.
"I feel like crying. I'm disappointed because I know how good I was going to be tonight," McDonnell said to Sky Sports.
"I'm still champion, but I wanted to prove it to everyone after that last fight. It's a move up now. That is my last fight at bantamweight. It's time to move on."
