Hereford featherweight Darren 'Dazzo' Williams' dream of adding the European and Commonwealth titles to his British crown were ended by a second-round knockout at the hands of reigning champion Nicky Cook in Dagenham last Thursday.

The Hereford fighter was on the wrong end of a ferocious body-shot to the rib area after just 2 mins 1 sec of the second of the scheduled 12 rounds.

Williams dropped to the floor and it was quickly obvious that he would be unable to beat the count.

Cook, rated number three in the world by the WBO before the contest, had come out strongly to dominate the first round, landing 11 body shots to Williams' two.

The second round had seen the Hereford man begin to get the rustiness out of his system and improve on his slow start. But the relentless Cook delivered the hammer blow and Wellingborough referee John Keane counted out the prostrate Williams.

"That punch would have dropped any featherweight in the world," said former champion Nicky Piper, who was providing the expert analysis for Sky Sports.

Cook himself was delighted as he looked to move his career on to the next level.

"I'm ecstatic over the win," said the new triple title-holder. "Body shots were the tactic and I knew I would be too strong.

"I knew that I had hit him with a good shot but I was not sure that it was that good.

"I belong in world class now and I am ready for a world title shot."