Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron collided and collapsed over the top rope in the fifth round of their 10-round light-heavyweight contest as it ended early in a split-decision draw.
They fell all the way out of the ring, landing on the ring apron. Whittaker was hurt and could not continue.
That saw their bout for the IBF International title come to an abrupt ending as Whittaker could not come out for the sixth round.
Whittaker immediately left the arena in a wheelchair.
With five rounds completed, the bout went to the scorecards, and ended as a split draw.
One judge scored it 58-57 for Whittaker, the other had it for Cameron by the same margin, while the third had them level at 58-58.
Whittaker injured after tumbling over the ropes
It had become a difficult bout for Whittaker, even though he started the busier of the pair.
In the first round, Whittaker whipped through rapid jabs before he fired his right into the body. A short cross blasted in too. But Cameron adjusted and, throwing a chopping backhand, caught Whittaker in the second round.
He countered Whittaker’s cross with a left hook and was finding openings in a strong showing. Cameron blocked shots and, suddenly confident, stuck his tongue out at his opponent.
Whittaker fights Cameron (Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions)
That prompted Whittaker to respond. But he was increasingly being drawn in to trading with Cameron, standing his ground and slugging with his opponent.
He wasn’t working from long distance, perhaps where he ought to be. But he was managing to mark Cameron up round the eye.
Whittaker brought a right over the top as they worked at each other. But heavy left hooks from Cameron catch Whittaker.
The Olympic silver medallist looked ragged too in the fifth round when Cameron clubbed his right into him.
Whittaker turned up his assault, but got a telling-off for going low.
Then disaster struck as Cameron walked him back to the rigging until they both tumbled over the top rope and crashed on the ring apron, with the one left hurt after the accident.
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Local fighter Mohammed Alakel, trained by British coach Joe Gallagher, had a successful professional debut, a rousing reception at the Kingdom Arena when he outpointed Jesus Gonzalez in their four-rounder.
Alakel won 40-36 for all three judges. Gonzalez might have been hurt at times but he made sure he worked his way through to the final bell.
Fabio Wardley’s huge rematch with Frazer Clarke is on the epic Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol bill on Saturday October 12 live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Wardley vs Clarke 2 and Beterbiev vs Bivol now!
