Dublin's Stephen Ormond lost his WBO European lightweight belt and with it a shot at the WBO world title after he lost to Terry Flanagan in bizarre circumstances in their bout at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Ormond and Englishman Flanagan went head-to-head in what was an elimination fight for a shot at the vacant WBO crown but Ormond's hopes went up in smoke in the tenth round he he was disqualified for repeated headbutting.
Ormond started brightly and had the best of the early exchanges but was at a height and reach disadvantage against his bigger opponent, who took charge of affairs as the fight progressed.
The Irishman was warned three times for use of the head and had a point deducted by the referee in the ninth round as he began to look desperate.
Referee Steven Gray then ruled that Ormond had committed another intentional headbutt in the tenth round and stepped in to wave the fight off, disqualifying the Dubliner.
Elsewhere, Luke Keeler was beaten on points in the semi-finals of the Prizefighter Middleweights III at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Keeler, who was favourite going into the tournament, beat Luke Crowcroft on a unanimous 29-28 decision but went on to lose to Tom Doran on the same points decision.
Doran would go on to beat Cello Renda in the final, stopping him in the third round.
