Brighton fighter Chill John admitted he got it wrong against Jon Thaxton at the Norwich Sports Village on Saturday.

Referee Lee Cook stopped the contest after two minutes 19 seconds of the second round as the Norwich man made a triumphant comeback in front of his home fans.

Thaxton's win, his first as a lightweight after stepping down a division to kick-start his career which had stalled following a defeat against light-welterweight Eamonn Magee, was emphatic with John knocked to the canvas twice before the referee's intervention.

John, who was given a stern warning by his trainer Ronnie Davies after weighing in light at 9st 8lb compared to Thaxton's 9st 12lb, was devastated by the defeat and admitted afterwards he had not stuck to the game-plan he had come up with to deal with the hard-hitting Thaxton.

"I fought the wrong fight," said John. "I thought I had it under control.

"He was strong but I thought after a couple of rounds I would have warmed up properly and been ready for him.

"But he caught me with a left hook which I didn't see coming. I probably got up too quick from that and then he caught me again."

Thaxton's power was evident in the first round as he pressed John, forcing him into corners and firing off punches as the Brighton boxer found it hard to reply.

John did get through with one notable right hand that halted Thaxton's progress.

The second round saw John pinned into a neutral corner as Thaxton again pressed but it was a stunning left hook which sent John skidding across the ring to signal the beginning of the end.

John was quickly up but pinned into his corner on the ropes as Thaxton followed up with a fierce barrage. It looked like he may see out the round as he came back with punches of his own but a straight right crumpled John just a yard from were Davies was standing and a shake of John's head confirmed the referee was right to step in and stop the fight as he staggered back to his feet.

Davies, Chris Eubank's former trainer, said: "I still don't think I over-matched Chill. He boxed well in the first round and caught Thaxton with a cracking right hand.

"I told Chill: Don't let him hustle, don't let him catch you on the ropes, and he did. He stayed on the ropes, got caught in the corners and fought the wrong fight.

"We knew Thaxton would come out strong and Chill needed to get through the first two rounds and then he could have picked him apart.

"It's no excuse. He got caught on the ropes where he shouldn't have been. Chill should have been going forward and pushing him back.

"But what's he lost? Nothing. He has lost to a top boy after he took a gamble.The only fights which were being offered to Chill were against top boys and they didn't want to fight him, maybe they will now.

"There's no disgrace in losing to that boy at all."