Wayne Elcock's bid to dethrone IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham ended in painful defeat in Switzerland.
The Midland challenger collapsed into the referee's arms after Abraham badly hurt him with a right-left combination with 62 seconds to go in the fifth round in Basle.
"It was just a bad day in the office," Elcock said. "There are no excuses. Abraham is a great champion and he proved it. I just want to say thanks to the people in Switzerland and it is a shame I could not put more of a fight on but I will be back."
After a cagey opening, Abraham sent the Coleshill fighter down with a straight right in the second round.
The 33-year-old bounced back by landing some nice combinations in the next two rounds, before Abraham's eye swelling up following an accidental headbutt.
But the champion turned on the style in the fifth, with Elcock receiving another count when a big right almost fired him out of the ring.
Abraham, a German of Armenian descent who lives in Berlin, said: "I feel very happy - it wasn't easy. I am relieved.
"I tried to look for his mistakes in the first rounds - I kept observing and then made my move. That's my style."
Danny Williams also left Basle empty-handed.
The 34-year-old Williams' bid for the IBF intercontinental title came up short as his fight against Ukrainian Oleg Platov was ruled a no contest due to an accidental headbutt.
"I feel robbed," a furious Williams said after the referee waved the thrilling bout off with 45 seconds to go in round four.
"I am very upset with the outcome of this fight. I was on verge of knocking him out and then the referee jumped in."
