Brighton's Chill John failed to take the inaugural English lightweight title after a narrow points defeat against Southend's Danny Hunt in Liverpool.

The decision appeared harsh over ten rounds at the Everton Park Sports Centre against the highly-rated Essex man.

Chill, 26, topped the bill in his 13th pro fight as Frank Warren's Fight Skool series of promotions, which showcases the best upcoming Brits, rolled into Merseyside.

Losing in his last three outings had hardly been the ideal preparation for the biggest fight of John's career to date, especially when facing a boxer who had lost just once in 14 previous outings.

However, after facing a higher standard of opposition in his previous fights, the man from St Vincent in the West Indies was expected to give Hunt a good battle.

Weighing in fractionally lighter at 9st 7.5lb, John was forced to box off the back foot in the early rounds as Hunt, 22, banged home hooks to the body. John, trained and managed by Ronnie Davies, opted to work his way in behind his jab.

John's tactics appeared to be reaping dividends early in the second session as Hunt picked up a cut to the left eyebrow but the Essex man's punches seemed to be carrying more weight in the early stages.

The pendulum swung John's way during the middle stages of the contest when, buoyed by the swelling rising under Hunt's left eye, he moved into a busier, more aggressive mode.

A short left uppercut early in the eighth left an already blooded Hunt with a wound above his right eye and, as the bout entered its final stages, most at ringside thought the result was still in the balance.

Hunt did manage to reassert himself as the end neared but there were a few murmurs of disapproval when referee Howard Foster awarded the 97-95 decision the way of the Essex fighter.

Chill looked genuinely angered at the decision as the decision could easily have gone his way.