Paul Ingle went to Sheffield Arena to fight for his world championship belt but ended up fighting for his life.

The 28-year-old from Scarborough was knocked out in the final round of his IBF world title bout and it quickly became clear his injuries were much more serious than brief concussion.

Referee Dave Parris ended the bout after Ingle - nicknamed the "Yorkshire Hunter" - was floored for a second time in the 12th round.

He had suffered bleeding from his nose from the second round of the fight and swellings appeared as that round went on.

Initially it seemed that Ingle was recovering in the ring and he spoke to trainer Steve Pollard, but slumped back to the canvas and the paramedics were called to administer oxygen.

There was panic around the ring and inside the ropes doctors and medics, ready on the scene in case of such emergencies, were tending to the boxer.

It was not clear whether Ingle was conscious or able to move and after several minutes he was stretchered from the ring with his head in a block brace. He was connected to a saline drip and was also being given oxygen.

His South African challenger, Mbulelo Botile, was awarded the IBF belt but all celebrations were somewhat muted.

The atmosphere at ringside was subdued and a little strange, with the concern for Ingle's welfare obvious among commentators and the media, many of whom were literally inches from the stricken fighter as he was taken out of the ring.

The crowd further back were stunned by the outcome of the bout but many appeared unaware of the seriousness of the situation as they awaited the main fight of the night, a WBO super-middleweight championship contest between British rivals Joe Calzaghe and Richie Woodall.

Welshman Calzaghe won it in the tenth round when the fight was stopped by the referee to prevent Woodall taking further punishment.

The press conference immediately after the Full Monty 2 programme had ended was postponed on the night after details of the operation filtered back to the Sheffield Arena.

peter.martini@ycp.co.uk