Belfast taxi driver Martin Rogan handed Matt Skelton the first stoppage defeat of his career to claim the Commonwealth heavyweight crown at the age of 37.

The unbeaten Rogan sent Skelton to the canvas at Birmingham's NIA with a right hand in the 11th round of a bruising contest before the referee ended it.

It was an astonishing result for Rogan in only his 12th professional fight.

He had earned his shot at Bedford's Skelton by beating Olympic champion Audley Harrison in December.

Right from the off, the rugged Irishman, who beat three opponents in one night to win a Prizefighter tournament at London's York Hall last year, showed he has real hunger.

Skelton showed he has a strong chin and traded a fair few punches of his own throughout an at times brutal slugging match, but Rogan hung on to claim victory.

Referee John Keane eventually jumped in to end the fight after one minute and 21 seconds of the penultimate round, sparking jubilant celebrations in the Rogan corner.

Rogan's aim is to become only the second Irishman to win a version of the world heavyweight title - more than 100 years on from Peter Maher in 1895.

Although there is an obvious question mark about his age, he may yet have a chance on the evidence of his punching power and durability.

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