Ward called it a day after losing his Commonwealth title to Ghana's Anyetei Laryea at Peterlee Leisure Centre last night.

The Neil Fannan fighter was bludgeoned into submission by the tough African fighter and retired at the end of the fourth round.

Ward revealed that he was set to quit even if he had retained his super-bantamweight crown because of a long-standing injury.

"That's going to be it from me," said the 30-year-old.

"I've been having terrible trouble with my left arm – I've had bone growth on my elbow joint and it needs surgery.

"Even if I'd won last night, I'd have wrapped it in to be honest, I've been having a problem with it for ages.

"I could have an operation, but it would be six months before I could even hit a bag again.

"I'd be looking at more or less a year out of action and at the age of 30, that's no good to me.

"Obviously, we had to keep my injury a secret and we decided I'd get in there and give it a go, but it wasn't to be.

"But there are no regrets – I've had a good career and I'm happy with what I've achieved.

"I've been to the ABA finals, fought for the British championship and won the Commonwealth title– not many fighters can say that.

"I've enjoyed getting in there and giving it my all."

There was no lack of bottle from Ward last night, but after being put down in the third and fourth rounds, the destination of the belt was never in question.

Ward stablemates David Dolan and James McElvasney both won on the undercard, Dolan stopping Preston's Howard Daley in round two of their heavyweight bout and McElvaney outpointing Poland's Mariusz Bacek.

FOR Full report and pictures from show, see today's Mail