JACK Cullen came up short in his bid to take the Commonwealth title from Felix Cash but played a full part in a thrilling fight at the Manchester Arena.
The Little Lever Meat Cleaver, the English champion, was stopped in the eighth round of a contest that saw both men unload from the off.
Cullen was down as early as the first round as the watching Sky Sports viewers were treated to a fight that was all action.
He recovered and had the unbeaten Cash in trouble with the fight going back and forth for the opening five rounds.
The Wokingham man moved in to the ascendancy but Cullen kept coming before being sent to the canvas again in the seventh.
Cash sensed blood with referee Howard Foster bringing a halt to proceedings in the eighth as Cullen tasted defeated for just the second time in his 19th professional fight.
It was another crowd pleasing display from 25-year-old though who will have only won more fans with his performance.
Cash has now won all 12 of his fights with eight knockouts.
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