WORCESTER kickboxer Tony Butler refused to throw in the towel in his latest fight despite tearing his right bicep off the bone.

The 39-year-old suffered the freak injury during a bout for the vacant World Kickboxing Association Midlands Area super-heavyweight title bout against Pershore's Mathew Kurtlingus at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

Butler, who first won the title in 2004 but has not since defended it, knew he had hurt himself at the end of the first two-minute round but decided to battle on in the five-round fight. However, the contest was eventually stopped at the end of the fourth round because Butler's left eye had swollen up.

He said: "I was winning the fight in the first two rounds but, at the end of the first round, my bicep ripped completely off the bone, which is quite a serious injury.

"I didn't tell my corner at the time because I didn't want to be pulled out. I fought on but at the end of the fourth round my left eye had closed up because I couldn't defend myself and my body had gone into shock because of the injury."

He added: "I came out for the second round and my arm was half its normal size. I fought on for three rounds because I didn't want to pull out because I knew I could beat the guy.

"He hit me with everything he had in the fourth round but couldn't knock me out."

Butler, of Butler's Health and Fitness in Farrier Street, was taken to hospital after the fight and is due to have surgery to re-attach the muscle later this week.

He expects to be back to fitness in a couple of months and has already asked Kurtlingus for a re-match before the end of the year.

Butler added: "I was told I would have been awarded the title on points had I pulled out in the third round but I didn't want to win it like that.

"As far as I am concerned the title is on loan. I don't feel I lost the title, I feel it's mine and I will win it back next time."