IT was heartbreak for John Wayne Hibbert as a sixth round stoppage against Andrea Scarpa all but ended his chances of a shot at a world title.

The 31-year-old was fighting for the WBC silver super-lightweight title at the 02 Arena and was the favourite against the Italian, but a nasty cut over his left eye led to his downfall.

Hibbert, from Horndon-on-the-Hill, was cut in the second round and struggled to recover, with Scarpa’s punching power impressive.

He had Hibbert on the canvas in the fifth round but, at the end of the sixth, the fight was ended by the referee due to the worsening wound above Hibbert’s eye.

And Hibbert said he was devastated to go down against Scarpa, but vowed to return.

“I am devastated and I really wanted that title and to go onto bigger and better things,” he said. “It wasn’t my night.

“I don’t want to take anything away from him (Scarpa). I promised my kids I would bring them the belt and I am sorry I couldn’t manage it.

“I want to say thanks to Eddie (Hearne) and my team and well done to Andrea – he was a good fighter.

“I felt brilliant and I thought I would have the power but it wasn’t meant to be. I will come back.”