Barclay's title hopes ended by a cut

The referee waved off his fight with defending champion Matty Askin in the second of 10 scheduled rounds after consulting the ringside doctor.

The 26-year-old from Corby picked up the wound on his left eyebrow during a tough opening round.

Inside the opening minute, Barclay was on the floor for the first time in his professional career.

He was put over by a chopping right hand, but was up quickly and looked clear eyed.

Barclay held his boxing together well when Askin teed off with rights as he went looking for the finish, but went back to his stool at the bell with blood dripping from his left eye.

The referee indicated the wound was caused by a punch - rather than an accidental clash of heads – and in Barclay’s corner, his cuts man Kerry Kayes went to work.

Barclay more than held his own with Askin in the opening minute of the second – he said in his changing room afterwards that he felt “comfortable” – but the cut reopened and on the advice of the doctor, the referee waved the fight off after one minute, 18 seconds of the round.

Barclay confirmed afterwards that blood running into his left eye was making his vision “hazy.”

For Barclay, it was his first loss of his professional career after eight straight wins.