Deja vu in defeat for Grant Cunningham

It's double disappointment and déjà vu for Stafford's Grant Cunningham as bad luck again befell him in the race for the English middleweight title.

The man from Moss Pit has now lost an eliminator and title shot for the national crown, after another defeat on Saturday night.

Astonishingly, both setbacks almost mirror each other, the first coming on home turf at Cannock's Chase Leisure Centre in February.

Damon Jones – now the next contender to Nick Blackwell's British title - couldn't continue past the fifth round, after being cut on the right eyebrow from an accidental clash of heads.

As per British Boxing Board of Control rules, the bout had to go to the cards where referee Shaun Messer had Jones, whose hand was raised, ahead on points by one round, 49-48.

With Jones forefitting his shot to go after Blackwell, Cunningham thought his fortunes had taken a turn for the better when he was paired with Lewis Taylor for the vacant belt.

The 31-year-old had to travel to the Magna Centre in Rotherham for the 10-rounder, with Taylor also going into the bout on the back of a loss.

Again, the bout went five rounds, only this time they got to the end of the fifth before disaster again struck for Cunningham.

Like Jones, Taylor had been sliced by the right eyebrow from an accidental head clash, which left him in no fit state to continue after a doctor's inspection.

Again, the bout had to be decided on points, with three judges at ringside this time making the call as per the norm for a national title fight.

Taylor is the new champion with Michael Alexander and Phil Edwards going for him by 49-47 and 48-47 respectively, while John Latham had it all square (48-48).

It's back to the drawing board for Cunningham, who will almost certainly offer his services for a rematch with Taylor in the autumn.