WORCESTER middleweight Harry Butler travelled to Bethnal Green's York Hall to take part in his 16th fight of the year against unbeaten London-based Russian Eric Teymour.

But he could be forgiven for wishing he had given it a miss after being stopped in the second round of the scheduled six-rounder by an awesome display of power-punching from his opponent.

The signs looked ominous for Butler from the opening bell as Teymour found the target with an early right hook and a crunching left to the body before switching back to the head with two clubbing left hooks.

There was no let-up for Butler and a short right from the Russian dropped him for a count of eight. Butler was game enough to carry on, but when he was rocked again by another left hook before the bell sounded, the writing was on the wall.

A straight left from Teymour had the Worcester boxer in trouble again early in the second and after another flurry of shots, referee Jeff Hinds called a halt one minute six seconds into the round.