Martin Gethin's hopes of landing a world title shot were shattered after he was stopped in the seventh round by Ammeth Diaz in Walsall. A victory would have made the British lightweight champion the mandatory challenger to take on Mexico's Miguel Vazquez. But the local man was bludgeoned over seven rounds by the Panamanian, who will now get another crack at Vazquez a year after losing to the champion.
Gethin had to take a knee in the sixth and was on the canvas in the seventh, taking an eight-count from referee Howard Foster. Still he came forward but Diaz landed another punishing left forcing him to take a knee again and this time Foster reached his count.
"Credit to Diaz, he's a very good fighter," said Gethin. "He can punch and my ear was perforated in the fifth and it knocked me and the gameplan went out of the window to an extent. It's all come very quickly - I only won the British title in my last fight - so my head isn't dropping too much."
