WORCESTER-based Robert McCracken has marked the end of his

career by being named as the Boxer of the Year in the Midland Area Council's annual awards.

McCracken, 32, retired in April after being stopped in 10 rounds by Howard Eastman in their European, British and Commonwealth middleweight title fight.

He clinched the award ahead of the other two nominees, Neil Simpson, the British light-heavyweight champion,

and British bantamweight champion Nicky Booth.

Simpson also lost out in the Fight of the Year category after his Commonwealth light-heavyweight fight against Hastings Rasani.

He got off the floor four times to stop the Zimbabwean, but was pipped by Booth's clash with Ady Lewis.

Birmingham's Kostas Petrou, the former British welterweight champion, was presented with the Boxer from the Past award.

Mark Ramsey and Peter Buckley of Birmingham were pipped by Damon Hague in the Best Supporting Boxer award.

Wolverhampton's Nigel Rafferty, who had to retire earlier this month following a brain scan, and Warley's Graham McGrath were among five fighters who collected awards for Outstanding Services to boxing.