Anthony Farnell lost a controversial decision to South African Ruben Groenewald in front of his hometown following Manchester.

Farnell had three points deducted for low blows, and was lucky not to be disqualified for persistent infringement.

He floored the South African in the final round but after losing many of the opening six rounds, it seemed that either fighter could have received the decision.

That the winner was awarded the verdict by all three judges surprised Farnell and infuriated his promoter Frank Warren.

The fight was for the lightly regarded World Boxing Union middleweight title.

It was a bad night for Farnell's fellow Mancunian Michael Gomez, who was beaten by West Ham's Kevin Lear.

Lear, 25, handed Gomez a beating, drawing blood from his nose and left eye, and it was little surprise when Gomez failed to answer the bell for the ninth.

Lear, a former junior ABA champion, had never previously been past six rounds in his unbeaten 12-fight career.

Gomez's nose began to bleed more heavily in the sixth, and in the eighth he was in all sorts of trouble in a neutral corner when the composed Lear landed with a big right and short left combination.