Former world champion Scott Quigg hinted he could be set to retire after defeat to Jono Carroll in Manchester.
'King Kong' dominated from the opening bell before the former WBA super-bantamweight champion's corner threw in the towel in the 11th round after a sustained attack from the Irishman.
Quigg, 31, had hoped to become a two-weight world champion, but was left pondering his future afterwards as he admitted their super-featherweight clash had been "a must-win fight".
"He was the better man. I was chasing him," said an emotional Quigg afterwards. "Fitness-wise was no problem but my timing wasn't there.
"I'm a realist and I don't kid anyone. This was a must-win fight. At my best I would have won tonight. On this performance, I don't know what's left.
"I couldn't have achieved anymore. I cut no corners. I beat world champions, sold out arenas. If this is it, thank you."
The Bury man added: "I think on the evidence of that performance there is not a lot left.
"Thank you to everyone who has come out and supported me in my career."
Carroll, 27, paid tribute to Quigg afterwards, saying: "Scott was one of my idols growing up but this is my time, tonight I showed my quality."
Carroll has improved his record to 18-1-1, with his solitary loss coming when he challenged Tevin Farmer for the IBF super-featherweight title last March.
On the undercard, Hughie Fury bounced back from his August defeat to former World Champion Alexander Povetkin by knocking out the Czech Republic's Pavel Sour in three rounds to rekindle his world heavyweight title hopes.
Liverpool super-welterweight Anthony Fowler dropped late stand in Theophilus Tetteh three times on route to a first-round stoppage win to stay on course for a mouth-watering rematch with Preston's Scott Fitzgerald later this year.
"I'm coming for you son," Fowler warned Fitzgerald. "Let's have a 12-round war for the fans - you will not beat me this time."
