Anthony Ogogo will take time to assess next move after Craig Cunningham defeat
Craig Cunningham celebrates his victory over Anthony Ogogo during the vacant WBC International Middleweight Championship bout at the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 22, 2016. See PA story BOXING Birmingham. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire - Credit: PA
Anthony Ogogo will take some time in assessing his next move after tasting defeat for the first time as a professional against Craig Cunningham in Birmingham.
Ogogo was pulled out by his trainer Tony Sims in the eighth round suffering from blurred vision leaving Cunningham to take the WBC International middleweight title.
It was the first time Ogogo, 27, has been defeated since losing to Brazilian Esquiva Florentino in the semi-final at the Olympics in London 2012.
The Lowestoft middleweight didn't look his normal self from the moment he was knocked down in the second round, taking a standing eight-count.
Ogogo continually struggled against Cunningham's southpaw stance and over-reached with his own attacks, possibly as a result of his eye problem.
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Just when you were expecting an Ogogo onslaught in the final rounds, his corner brought a halt to proceedings handing Cunningham the title.
'I love been the underdog, nothing fazes me, I just want to get in there and win big titles,' said Cunningham.
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'From the first round we had to check how quick he actually was. I wasn't going to stand there, I felt like I was beating him to the jab. Nothing was fazing me. I know my knockout record isn't great, but when I catch someone, they are going to go.'
Whilst Cunningham celebrated, Ogogo was a picture of devastation. There will now be question marks over a homecoming show that had been pencilled in at the Norfolk Showground later this year.
Ogogo, who was unavailable for comment last night, was due to fight an eliminator for the British title against Elliott Matthews on December 17 in Norwich but Saturday's defeat is likely to put that in serious jeopardy.
Ogogo has continually suffered with injuries since turning professional at the start of 2013.
Two different bouts of surgery on both Achilles kept him out the ring for over a year and in his comeback fight he sustained a shoulder injury that also required an operation.
He looked to be back on track earlier this year when he registered three wins in quick succession but Cunningham's victory will bring about a serious rethink over Ogogo's career path.
He is expected to release a statement this week detailing his next move.
