Cardle loses British lightweight title

The Lytham boxer lost on points after a gruelling 12 round fight at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, going down to the new champion Robbie Barrett, of Barnsley.

Barrett had gone into the ring as a rank outsider, but he boxed like nothing of the sort.

Cardle had his man down twice for a count of eight, but he was not at his best and Barrett showing tremendous resolution to battle back from these setbacks.

For much of the hard-fought contest, Cardle had to cope with a bad cut to the left eye - his face was also swollen, suggesting a serious jaw injury.

One judge Michael Alexander called it a draw at 114-114, but Victor Loughlin gave it to Barrett by 114-112 and Steve Gray 115-113.

The punishing defeat meant that Cardle's hopes of keeping hold of the Lonsdale Belt after three winning defences were dashed.