Worcester-based boxer Robert McCracken has announced his retirement after failing in a bid to win the European middleweight title.

McCracken was stopped in the 10th round by Howard Eastman at the Wembley Conference Centre last night.

Unbeaten British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Eastman sent McCracken crashing to the canvas with a right uppercut.

Although McCracken regained his feet and beat the count, referee Dave Parris stopped the fight as his corner were prepared to pull him out.

McCracken will be 33 next month and feels that calling time on his career after the defeat was the best course of action to take.

With an ice bag over his badly swollen left eye, McCracken said: "My life has been boxing and if I cannot box at the top level that is the end so far as I am concerned.

"Although all my preparations had gone according to plan there was nothing there on the night.

"I'm not taking anything away from Eastman. He is a good fighter but he was my sparring partner six years ago.

"It was a good punch which put me down but by then he was well ahead."

McCracken had been a professional for the last 11 years, winning the British light-middleweight and Commonwealth middleweight titles, and was beaten just twice in 35 fights.