Ryan Aston stopped for Midlands title

Dudley's Ryan Aston will be pleased his Midlands middleweight title fight was scrubbed from the live Sky Sports schedule after he was pole-axed in two rounds.

Late changes to the running order meant viewers missed Aston's second round retirement against Curtis Valentine as it happened on Saturday.

Aston's trainer Paul Gough threw the towel into the ring at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield one minute and five seconds into the session.

His man was in severe trouble, already down twice, first blasted to his knees by a flurry of right hands from the powerful Valentine in the first.

To his credit, Aston gamely tried to get his own back but left his chin wide open to another barrage of shots which returned him to the canvas.

With Aston's nose bloodied and his responses fading fast, Gough pulled him out of there and his first defeat as a professional was confirmed.

Aston had struggled with the hammer-like right hand of Valentine from the off and his lax defence left him prone to danger as it went on.

He had been warned about Valentine's reputation for power - the Nottingham puncher left Luke Robinson out cold on his pro debut in 2009.

Aston turned over last June and had encountered few problems in getting rid of seven opponents since to land his first shot at a pro title.

A wound from a clash of heads against Dean Walker last September was the closest he had come to being badly hurt in a paid contest.

All that changed when he sunk to the deck after coming off second best in a exchange of punches, but he managed to rise to his feet.

The bell to end the first round saved him and gave the Dudley fighter some valuable time to try and shake off the blows.

Aston came back out looking to prove he could triumph in the face of adversity but his defences again let him down to force the finish.

Already hurt and trying to trade was a strategy not without his flaws as he was decked again as both men threw leather at close quarters.

Again, he answered the count but, visibly shaken with his responses non-existent, was wisely ruled out of the 10-round contest.

It was the worst birthday present ever after turning 21 last Tuesday but, at his age, time is on his side.