Tyrone McCullagh’s hopes of getting his once promising professional career back on track came unstuck when he was stopped in the third round by journeyman Brett Fidoe on the off-TV undercard of MTK’s show in Bolton. 

The 30-year-old super-bantamweight from Derry was having his first fight since losing his unbeaten record to Ryan Walsh in February last year and a six-rounder against Fidoe has seemed a pretty low risk.  

Fidoe came into the fight in a rare run of form, having taken a four-round points decision over debutant John Harker in Sheffield earlier this month. Prior to that, he had lost his previous 17. 

For the first two rounds there was no real sign of what was going to happen. McCullagh prodded out a jab and kept his distance, while Fidoe seemed content to let the action drift. Things changed dramatically in the third round, though, as McCullagh tried to up the pace and walked into trouble. 

Fidoe landed a series of right hooks that had McCullagh backpedaling and looking for a chance to hold. Fidoe went after him, though, landing a crushing left hooks on the ropes and another left as the Irishman tried to hang on, before sending him to the floor with a heavy right hook. 

McCullagh beat the count at five but looked on unsteady legs and referee Jamie Kirkpatrick waved it off at 1:46 of the round. 

It was only Fidoe’s seventh stoppage win in 85 fights.  

The rest of the off-TV section went more to plan for MTK. 

Middleweight Jordan Reynolds is now 2-0 as a professional as he knocked down Jan Ardon twice on the way to a 60-52 decision. 

Inder Bassi claimed a routine four-round points win over Chris Adaway at welterweight, winning 40-36 on referee Kirkpatrick’s card. It was the same score from Mr Kirkpatrick as Blane Hyland was adjudged the winner over Reiss Taylor at flyweight.