Dennis Hogan relinquished his IBO Super-welterweight to the slick JJ Metcalf at the 3Arena on Saturday evening.
The 34-year-old from Liverpool landed the heavier punches throughout, hurting Hogan on a number of occasions and leaving the Kildare native battered and bloodied.
Metcalf made his way to the ring to the sound of the Irish Rover.' It certainly got the crowd going, but that support didn't last long as the 3Arena was firmly in the corner of the man from Kildare, with chants of Hogan' echoing around the point within two minutes.
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An understandably tentative start from Hogan threatened to end in disaster with Metcalf swinging for the fences early doors. The veteran did well to avoid many of these blows, but a stinging right hand in the opener certainly got his attention.
Metcalf came forward at every opportunity and really looked to get Hogan fighting on the back foot. He achieved some early success with this tactic, landing a nice looping right hand that clipped the defending champ.
A big left hand in the third sent Hogan onto the ropes. 'Kid Shamrock' followed up with another fine hook as Hogan looked to dodge the danger.
The Liverpudlian looked much sharper in the early exchanges. Not only was he first to the punch, but when he landed, it was clear that they were hurting Hogan.
A huge right in the fourth snapped the 38-year-old's head back as Metcalf's corner roared on their man.
After a tame fifth, Metcalf took control once again in the sixth.
The Scouser sent a number of bombs Hogan's way and again sent him onto the ropes. Another late barrage left Hogan with a nasty cut above the right eye.
Smelling blood in the water, Metcalf upped the pace in the seventh and went to work on targeting the right eye of Hogan, picking him apart one shot at a time.
Trailing on the cards, Hogan knew he probably had to go for a finish. But with just six finishes to his name as a professional, that was never going to be an easy task.
He did improve however and may have picked up a couple of the later rounds. But in terms of impactful punches landed, Metcalf was well in front.
Hogan tried with all his might to hold onto his coveted world title, but Metcalf stayed out of danger down the stretch and picked up the deserved win.
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