Ear problems cost Martin Gethin a third fight

Walsall's Martin Gethin suffered a perforated ear drum for a third time as he retired after five rounds with Tommy Coyle.

Gethin lasted less than half of his scheduled 12-round fight with Coyle at the Hull Arena on Saturday night,

Hometown hero Coyle started brightly as Gethin felt his way into the opening stanza, but there was to be a significant twist in the tale.

'The Quiet Man' silenced the partisan crowd in the second, catching Coyle with a loaded left hook that put him on the canvas.

Dazed, he took an eight count and looked in a world of trouble. Gethin came forward but, luckily for Coyle, the bell came to his rescue.

The pair continued to trade in the third and a straight shot from Gethin stiffened Coyle's legs but he recovered well, as the round threatened to become the brawl everyone was expecting.

Coyle came out boxing in the fourth but, despite the shots landed, never rocked Gethin the way he was rocked early on.

The fifth ebbed and flowed as Coyle looked to recover and go on the attack, while Gethin seemed wary of going through the gears too early despite his early success.

Then, at the end of the fifth, Gethin retired much to the surprise of everyone in the Arena. Ears perforated once again, the former British Champion felt he could no longer continue.

Coyle's victory sets up an all Hull encounter with former Olympian, Luke Campbell MBE, in the summer whilst defeat leaves Gethin pondering his next move.

He said afterwards: "Both ears went in the third. There's nothing I can do about it. I felt strong in there and put him down in the second.

"He looked gone. I was confident the fight would go my way but then in an exchange in the third, my ears went.

"It's one of those things. It's really disappointing, especially as I felt that fight was mine for the taking. I need to get my ears fixed.

"This happened to me against Ammeth Diaz and again against Terry Flanagan. I need to get it sorted before I go again."