Ross Minter's unbeaten record came to a stunning end when he was ruled out with a badly-gashed eye against veteran Howard Clarke at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Clarke, in his 58th fight, landed a stiff jab which raised a bruise under Minter's right eye in the first round.

A similar punch from the warley boxer in the second ripped open the swelling.

Referee Ian John-Lewis immediately took Minter back to the corner, giving the signal to box on after an examination, but with the wound wide open, trainer Trevor Cattouse refused to allow his man to carry on.

It was all over after 25 seconds of the second.

It was Minter's first defeat after six wins, in a fight which always looked a calculated risk. Clarke has been in with the best and put up a brave showing in a world light-middleweight title bid in March 1999.

Minter said: "I was just starting to get into it. I fought the wrong fight. I stood there, waiting for him to do something. I should have used my usual movement. I'd love to fight him again, and I'd fight a different fight."