Australia's Joel Brunker has failed in his attempt to win the Commonwealth featherweight title, losing on points to hugely impressive Englishman Josh Warrington in Leeds.
The gutsy western Sydney fighter went into the contest with a 28-1 record and fully confident of victory to potentially set up a rematch with Welsh IBF champion Lee Selby, the only man to beat him.
Brunker started well in the early rounds, having some success with some decent body shots but once the Yorkshireman started to find his groove the result was never in doubt.
He was completely outclassed by Warrington, who dealt comfortably with the 29-year-old's aggressive approach to extend his unbeaten record to 22-0 in front of his delirious supporters in his home town city.
Warrington paid full respect to Brunker by not playing into his hands and going toe-to-toe with the durable Australian and subsequently his limitations were exposed as he battled gamely to take the fight to the distance, failing to win a single round.
The latter rounds were merely about self-preservation for Brunker who was protecting a nasty cut above his right eye, but he bravely went the distance.
However, all three judges scored the fight 120-108 in favour of Warrington.
It was a second successive defeat on British soil for Brunker after his loss to Selby in November and it leaves the 2004 Olympian's career at the crossroads with little chance of a rematch against Warrington or Selby, or a fight with WBC champion Gary Russell Junior.
"It was a great win for me, Joel is a world class fighter who makes it hard for you," Warrington told Sky Sports.
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