STEVE Bendall's British middleweight title dreams lay in tatters after he lost inside six rounds against Scott Dann in Plymouth on Friday night.

But the previously unbeaten Poole-based southpaw had no qualms about the result after referee Marcus McDonnell stopped the contest to save Bendall from further punishment.

Bendall, who felt he had already lost the opening five rounds, admitted he was never at his best in front of a frenzied 2,000 crowd, most of whom were behind Dann in his home city.

And the setback ended his run of 21 straight professional wins going back seven years.

Bendall, who required three stitches in a cut right ear sustained in the second round, said: "He was winning because I pretty much gave him five out of six rounds. Tonight, Scott was the better man. It was as simple as that. I was very disappointing. I can box 100 times better than that.

"Fair play to Scott though. He surprised me a little bit and took his chance. I took a lot of his shots well but I took one too many."

Bendall, roared on by about 150 of his own vocal travelling fans, added: "He used his tactics well. I gave him too much respect and didn't close the gap.

"He became the counter puncher and not me. My tactic was to bring him on to me but he didn't come in. I fell into his trap. I went for him and that was probably ring rustiness."

Bendall, who had not fought for 10 mon-ths, added: "I wasn't even breathing heavily at the end. That is what is so frustrating.

"But when I am not getting my tactics right it is a bad job. I gave him the fight.

"No excuses though. Scott did everything right and deserved to be British champion."

Bendall's challenge petered out two minutes and five seconds into the sixth round, just as he looked as though he was beginning to force his way back into the contest.

Dann, who had just been warned for holding and hitting by McDonnell, caught Bendall with a left. As Bendall back-peddled onto the ropes, he took two more lefts from Dann before McDonnell stepped in to end it.