LAWRENCE Bennett’s English cruiserweight title bid descended into farce which left champion Matty Askin taken away on a stretcher without a round complete.

Bennett and Askin collided on the ropes and fell on to the table at ringside and in the struggle both crashed to the floor.

The reigning champion Askin was left strewn on his back and was carried away on a stretcher, while angry fans of the Blackpool boxer gained access to the ring in an attempt to reach the self-styled Bad Boy.

Once Bennett had been ushered away to his dressing room and calm had been restored, the contest was declared a technical draw and Askin retained his title.

Bennett came into this contest as the heavy underdog. With little amateur experience and only eight professional fights to his name, the 33-year-old was not supposed to be at this level.

But here he was, returning to the York Hall seven months after successfully defending his Southern Area title with a brutal first round stoppage of Jamie Hearn.

Askin, meanwhile, had held the English title since 2012 and bounced back from his points defeat to Ovill McKenzie for the British and Commonwealth crown with a comfortable second round stoppage of Hungarian Tamas Bajzath.

The opening round saw Bennett stay out of range forcing the champion to overreach while Bad Boy was cautious in looking for any openings and managed to catch Askin and send him to the floor only for it to be declared a slip.

Then the fight descended into chaos as both fighters fell out of the ring and on to the floor.

Askin was left flat on his back and paramedics took the Blackpool man away on a stretcher.

But while the champion was being treated, fans gained access to the ring attempting to reach Bennett.

Ringside security kept the angry mob at bay and the Swindon fighter was ushered back to his dressing room before the fight was declared a technical draw.